2009:880 - BALLYMUREEN, Littleton, Tipperary

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken of topsoil stripping at the proposed location of a bungalow style dwelling house, garage and associated groundworks at Ballymurreen, Littleton, Co. Tipperary.  This work was carried out as a result of recommendations made in an archaeological assessment, Archaeological Assessment Proposed Dwelling House, Entrance, Garage & Associated Site Works, Ballymorreen, Littleton, Co. Tipperary (McMorran October 2008). This assessment was conducted in compliance with a condition of the planning application for the proposed work (Planning Ref 08/510735).  The proposed development is located adjacent to the recorded location of a ringfort (TN047-044). This site is no longer extant but a portion of curving field boundary survives at its recorded location.  Aerial photographs show a circular cropmark running from the curved boundary into the adjacent field. A large bivallate ringfort (TN047-045) is located in the field to the East. Archaeological monitoring was undertaken under License 08E957 on the 10^th January 2009.  During the course of monitoring the ground floor areas of the house, garage and surrounding paths were topsoil stripped. No material or features of an archaeological nature were discovered. Immediately below the topsoil was a thin layer of mid-orangey brown subsoil below which the natural comprised with stone and gravel inclusions.