2009:763 - KNOCKGRAFFON, Tipperary

Excavation was undertaken of archaeological features uncovered during licenced monitoring of topsoil-stripping at the proposed site of a telecommunications support structure, equipment cabins and associated groundworks in Knockgraffon, Cahir, Co. Tipperary. A total of nineteen features were recorded: eight post-holes forming a west-facing arc, nine postholes with no discernible pattern positioned internally and externally to the west-facing arc, a pit/large post-hole and a shallow gully.
The eight post-holes which formed an arc were evenly spaced at c. 1.5m apart and some were rock-cut, indicating that a great deal of care and effort went into the construction of this structure. The structure can be interpreted in two ways: firstly as part of a large circular building, possibly a domestic structure, although there was no evidence for the continuation of the arc. Secondly it can be interpreted as a partial or semicircular arrangement of posts that were freestanding with a potentially ritual or ceremonial significance. The scattering of post-holes that did not form part of the arc formed no discernible pattern. However, a barley grain from the fill of post-hole (009), forming part of the arc, was radiocarbon-dated and returned a date of 380–50 cal BC (2 sigma) (SUERC–25889), placing it in the Early Iron Age. A similar date was obtained from a hazelnut shell from the fill of post-hole (019), a feature situated internally to the arc. This returned a date determination of 380–90 cal BC (2 sigma) (SUERC–25890), suggesting that the internal and external post-holes were contemporary with the post-hole arc and that the main activity on site took place in the Early Iron Age. Cremated bone of possible human origin was recovered from several of the excavated post-holes and finds for the site include a polished stone axe, three highly polished stones, two copper-alloy fragments and several worn fragments of prehistoric pottery. It is most likely, based on available evidence, that the arc represents part of a ritual or funerary space, probably a half-circle of posts orientated towards the west.

The shallow curvilinear gully, identified to the south-east of the post-holes, was on a different alignment and is not related to the other excavated features. It contained numerous unburnt dog-bone fragments throughout the single fill. As these fragments were better preserved than the assemblage retrieved from the post-holes, it may suggest that this feature represents a later phase of activity at the site, possibly relating to agricultural activity.