County: Tipperary Site name: 13LIS-001, Killoran, Moyne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: various Licence number: 13E0174
Author: Tim Coughlan
Site type: Class 2 togher, hurdle track
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 622124m, N 666881m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.752530, -7.672280
Following an assessment of the proposed impact of an extension to the Tailings Management Facility (TMF) in Lisheen Mine, 16 archaeological sightings were recorded in June 2013 (see 13E059). A programme of excavation was carried out between July and September 2013 which resulted in the excavation of these 16 sites and a further 28 sites which were identified during the course of excavation.
The hurdle track was constructed of predominately hazel rods (83%) with some birch (10%), ash (5%) and alder (2%), arranged in 3 longitudinal sails running east–west, crossed by horizontally woven rods. A number of preserved sail ends were identified as chisel points.
The hurdle panels were somewhat unusual given the longitudinal sail and lateral rod arrangement, although the weave pattern consisted of the common alternate under-over pattern. It is suggested by Ingelise Stuijts (pers. comm.) that the unusual weave pattern would not have been practical or suitable for the bog conditions. The longitudinally laid sails would not have provided the flexibility afforded by shorter lateral sails with longitudinal woven rods. She suggested that the track may have failed and consequently may not been in use for any significant length of time.
The recorded wood was generally in good condition except where there had been damage from milling (near field surface), at drain edges and in fields used in recent sod-turf production.
Preliminary dating as part of the initial assessment dated a piece of ash wood to 510–390 BC (BETA-345771). A second piece of ash wood retrieved during excavation of the track in Field 3 was dated to 407–210BC (UBA 25555) placing it in the early Iron Age. This site was located directly over the trackway identified as 13LIS-002 at both east and west ends although both tracks had slightly different alignments in their central sections. It is suggested that 13LIS-001 represents a replacement for the 13LIS02 structure.
This site was fully resolved and no further archaeological mitigation is required.
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