County: Tipperary Site name: Knockalton Upper
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003402
Author: Lisa Doyle, Headland Archaeology, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Possible sunken structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 589657m, N 677626m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.849463, -8.153539
Testing in advance of the N7 Nenagh to Limerick high-quality dual carriageway project carried out by Judith Carroll & Co. in 2006 (A026/443) identified a possible stone structure. Archaeological resolution of the site was carried out on 15–23 February 2007.
A subrectangular hollow measuring 16.2m by 5.2m by 0.3m was orientated north-west/south-east. The break of slope was sharp at the top and imperceptible at the base. It is possible that this was an enhanced natural hollow.
At the base of the hollow a sub-oval possible stone structure was identified. Stones of various sizes, generally rounded, were uncovered in concentrations lining the base of the longer sides of the hollow.
To the south, an area of rising bedrock exposed between the stone-lined edges was identified as a potential entrance. The northern end had been disturbed during test-trenching; however, the line of surviving stones suggested that it was originally closed at that end.
The hollow was filled with reddish-orange soft silty clay with very occasional flecks of charcoal. An almost complete skeleton of a probable pig was recovered from the upper portion, towards the southern extent of the hollow. There were no other finds and no indication of site date.
