County: Tipperary Site name: Rathnaveoge Lower 4
Sites and Monuments Record No.: TN017–074 Licence number: E003623
Author: Sinéad Marshall, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd Brehon House, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Prehistoric settlement
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 620607m, N 618475m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.317527, -7.697738
Rathnaveoge Lower 4 was excavated from September 2007 to January 2008 during Phase 2 of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road improvement scheme. As excavation is ongoing, an outline only is given at present.
The site was spectacularly located on a hillside knoll at over 160m OD with extensive views to the north, west and south. To the east the hill continues rising to over 230m OD.
A number of phases of activity are evident, focused on a small, flattened area at the top of the knoll. The earliest archaeological features were a series of pits followed by structural elements such as post- and stake-holes. These were sealed by a layer of redeposited natural subsoil up to 0.1m deep. The pattern was then repeated in the same location, with a second series of pits cut by more post- and stake-holes. It is unclear at present how many structures were built here over time.
Three simple cremation burials in pits were also excavated from the later phases. Finds including coarse prehistoric pottery and small amounts of struck flint and chert indicate a Bronze Age date.
The archaeological works were funded by the clients, Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority.
