2013:275 - 13LIS-051 Killoran, Moyne, Tipperary

Following an assessment of the proposed impact of an extension to the existing Tailings Management Facility (TMF) in Lisheen Mine, 16 archaeological sightings were recorded in June 2013 (see 13E0059). 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.

This site consisted of a brushwood (90%) and roundwood (10%) track running longitudinally (NE-SW) for a length of 11.2m in the north-west of the development. The track measured 2m in width and 15cm in depth.  The elements of the track were all longitudinally set in one horizon, with some overlap and some running slightly diagonally to the main track orientation and ranged from 3-12cm in diameter and from 10cm -2.4m in length.  The brushwood elements were mainly made up of Ash and Hazel with occasional Alder and infrequent Pomoideae and Willow.  The roundwood elements were mainly made up of Alder.

The track was loosely set with some gaps of up to 20cm between the elements.  The site was in poor to moderate condition and was constructed in c513, a H1-H2 decayed peat of mid brown reddish colour slightly mottled with black. C513 was  laminated and very cohesive with frequent roots, moderate-frequent small reeds and occasional to moderate twig inclusions.  The peat that developed above the track, c511, was a dark brown/black mottled H2 peat which was less cohesive and had more twig and less reed inclusions than c513.

The site was directly located below sites 13LIS-043, 13LIS-049 and 13LIS-048, the earliest of which returned a calibrated date of 800-547 BC, indicating that 13LIS-051 dates to the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age. It forms part of a wider complex of activity in this area of the site that is similarly dated.

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