County: Tipperary Site name: Thurlesbeg
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08E0138
Author: Joanne Hughes, Boscabell, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Curvilinear ditch and possible kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 607720m, N 645777m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.563259, -7.886128
Planning permission was granted for the construction of agricultural buildings and ancillary works at the rear of Thurlesbeg House, Boherlahan, Co. Tipperary. The site is beside TS053–040, a ringfort. A total area measuring 224m2 was machine excavated on 21–23 July 2008 and a number of features of archaeological significance were identified.
An irregular-shaped possible cereal-drying kiln was identified at the north-eastern corner of the site. This feature had irregular, undercut sides and an irregular stepped base, which was c. 0.1m deeper at the western (bowl) end than the eastern (flue) end of the kiln. It measured 1.35m long east–west by 0.4–0.9m wide and was 0.08–0.24m deep. The basal deposit was an orange oxidised/scorched clay lining, the upper fill was a dark-brownish-grey compact clay with frequent charcoal, seed and occasional stones.
A shallow curvilinear ditch was identified to the south and west of the possible kiln; it was cut into a light-grey sandy clay subsoil. It had gradual sides and a slightly undulating base and it measured 6.25m long (it extended beyond the north-eastern and north-western limits of excavation), 0.9–1.22m wide and 0.12–0.22m deep. Two deposits were noted intermittently within this ditch; both were archaeologically sterile.
Although no dating evidence was recovered from these features during the course of the excavation it is proposed that a radiocarbon date using charcoal/seed recovered from the kiln will be acquired.
