County: Tipperary Site name: 13LIS-006 and 13LIS-023, Killoran, Moyne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: various Licence number: 13E0179
Author: Tim Coughlan
Site type: Worked wood in situ
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 622179m, N 666967m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.753300, -7.671460
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.
13LIS-006 extended roughly east-west over an area of 2.4m by 1.4m, and consisted of two roundwood timbers with worked ends, and a cluster of fragmented brushwood elements. 85% of the identifiable timber was recorded as hazel, although poor preservation prevented the identification of the remainder. The peat type in the immediate vicinity of 13LIS-006 was H2 sphagnum raised bog peat and consisted of a hummock and hollow system with eriophorum present.
13LIS-023 extended over an area measuring 2.5m by 1.5m. The site consisted of three roundwood timbers orientated east–west, lying roughly parallel with a small cluster of brushwood. The brushwood cluster may represent a branch with twigs that was used to stabilise a structure. The majority of recovered timber was in poor preservation, although the roundwood timbers could be identified as birch roundwood. The brushwood was identified as hazel (32%), alder (14%), birch (14%), ash (10%), holly (5%) and willow (5%) with twigs of birch (10%) and alder (5%).
The roundwood timber and brushwood would seem to have no obvious relationship apart from proximity and general orientation. It was unclear whether these timbers represent the fragmentary remains of a substantially disturbed structure, or were displaced from a nearby unidentified structure. The site is located within a wider area of worked wood, stake rows and small tracks located on the field surface. The peat type in the immediate vicinity of 13LIS-023 was weakly decomposed H2 sphagnum raised bog peat, consisting of a hummock and hollow system with eriophorum present.
This site was fully resolved and no further archaeological mitigation is required.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
