2013:199 - Lisheen Mine, Killoran, Tipperary

An assessment was carried out in 2013 in order to investigate the lands surrounding a Tailings Management Facility (TMF) which was to be extended as part of the Lisheen Mine Closure Plan. This involved a desktop assessment, testing and field walking in the townland of Killoran, Moyne, Co. Tipperary. The area of proposed development comprised bogland which had been subject to milling for c. 20 years and a small area along the dryland margin.

The assessment followed on from a peatland survey completed by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (IAWU) in 1995. A total of 63 sites were identified at this time within the proposed wetland area, 24 of which have been registered in the Recorded Monuments and Places (RMP):  TN036-050011, 063, 064, 066, 071, 072, 079, 081 and 146–176. A subsequent two-year wetland field project was undertaken between 1996 and 1997 (Gowan, Ó Néill and Phillips, 2005) associated with the Lisheen mine construction.

Preliminary inspection of the peatland area within the proposed wetland site was hindered by heavy vegetation and back-filled drains. The peat levels were surveyed and observed to have been notably reduced by c. 0.3–1.9m since 1995. As many of the sites recorded in 1995 were identified on or near the bog surface it was anticipated in advance of the field inspection that most of these sites would have been destroyed. The sites uncovered during this phase of works were mostly located on the higher peat fields which may have contained peat stock piles. These sites were preserved as they were not subjected to milling and sausage turf production over the last 17 years. All sites recorded in the survey have been referenced with the prefix 13LIS, to relate to the 2013 survey of the Lisheen Mine complex, and then numbered consecutively from 1.

Fourteen archaeological sightings were identified, including four class 2 toghers, one class 3 togher, eight structures and stake rows, and one burnt mound. Two additional sites of potential archaeological significance were also identified, including a wood horizon (13LIS 016), and the possible remains of a burnt mound structure (13LIS 015). Seven of the sites identified above can be linked to sites recorded by the Irish Archaeological Wetlands Unit. The assessment concluded that all of these sites would be directly impacted on by the proposed development and it recommended full resolution be undertaken prior to development.

Based on the peat stratigraphy, it was considered that the hurdle structures were constructed during the Bronze Age/Iron Age period, whilst the structures on the dryland margin were medieval in date. One ash timber identified from the 13LIS 001 returned a 2 sigma calibrated result of 590-310BC placing it in the early Iron Age. A hazel brushwood from 13LIS 011 returned a 2 sigma calibrated result of AD660-780 placing it in the early medieval period. A sample from 13LIS 008 was previously dated after the IAWU survey to AD1024–1162 (2 sigma). A sample of the oak plank taken from 13LIS 014 has also been submitted to QUB for dendrochronological dating and returned an estimated felling date of 1035BC ± 9, dating it to the late Bronze Age. The burnt mound (13LIS-055) is most likely to be Bronze Age in date.

As part of this assessment a targeted programme of testing was also carried out along the dryland margin. A total of 15 test trenches indicated that a large amount of material had been stored in this area. Much of this can directly relate to stockpiling of material in the recent past (15–20 years). Other deposits and disturbance of peat deposits probably relate to earlier agricultural reclamation or land improvement which may have extended the “dryland” to the current visible bog edge. This marginal area at the edge of the bog would probably have been quite heavily overgrown and clearance would have caused notable disturbance to the peat deposits. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in the 15 test trenches in the dryland area.

Reference:
Gowen, M., O’ Néill, J. and Phillips, M. 2005 The Lisheen Mine Archaeological Project 1996–8. Wordwell, Dublin.