2013:445 - Brickendown, Tipperary

A series of pits were identified in an area measuring 25m north-south by 15m during monitoring in November 2013. A subsequent excavation of the features revealed several pits and a possible post-hole. The excavation was carried out between 9 and 22 December 2013.

The features were situated in the north-east corner of the development site.  The excavation produced evidence for two phases of activity. The earliest phase is represented by a post-hole. The post-hole was truncated by a larger, shallow pit feature. It was sub-circular in plan measuring 0.29m in length and 0.2m in depth.  It contained a single fill, lightly compacted sandy silt, mid grey/brown in colour.  Inclusions were occasional small, sub-angular stones and charcoal flecks. No finds were retrieved from this feature. The post-hole was truncated by a pit 1m north-west/south-east x 0.6m x 0.05m in depth.  It contained a single fill, a mid grey/brown clayey silt that was lightly compacted. Inclusions were occasional small stones and flecks of charcoal.

Approximately 7m to the north of the pit and post-hole, four pits were located in a west-north-west by east-south-east alignment. The westernmost pit was oval in plan with a length of 0.95m north-south by 0.9m and depth of 0.5m.  The pit contained two fills; the lower fill comprised a dark grey/brown clayey silt with a moderate amount of charcoal flecks and occassional small angular stones. The upper fill comprised a dark grey marl with occasional charcoal flecks.

The second pit was situated 0.3m to the south-east. It was sub-rectangular and measured (L x W x D) 3.24m x 2.5m x 0.5m.  It contained 4 fills, all of which comprised sterile clay with no inclusions.  A chert artefact was recovered from the upper fill.

The third pit was found c. 0.5m to the east. It was sub-oval in plan with dimensions of 1.3m x 0.77m x 0.25m. There was a single fill comprising a mid to dark grey silty clay with frequent small, sub-angular stones.

The easternmost pit was irregular in shape measuring 2.5m north-south x 1.2m x 0.5m in depth.  There were five fills recorded in the cut. The basal fill was a mid orange/brown silty clay with occasional small pebbles and decayed stone at the lower part of the fill.  Overlying this was a light to mid grey, mottled with orange, firm clay with occasional flecks of charcoal.  The third fill was a orange/brown, firm silty clay with occasional small rounded stones and occasional charcoal flecks.  The fourth fill was a light greyish brown, firm clayey silt with occasional charcoal flecks and moderate inclusions of small - medium stones. A possible chert core was recovered from this layer.  The upper fill was a mid grey-brown, firm, clayey silt with occasional charcoal flecks.

The last pit feature was situated in the north-west corner of the site. It was sub-oval in plan measuring 0.95m x 0.5m x 0.33m.  It contained two fills. The base fill was moderately compacted, light to mid grey, silty sand with frequent small pebbles less than 10mm diameter.  The upper fill was moderately compacted, mid to light grey, silty clay with occasional small stones (0.05-0.15m).  Samples from all features have been retained for further analysis and dating evidence that will assist in the overall interpretation of the site.

Shanarc Archaeology Ltd, 15 Woodlawn, Archers Ave, Kilkenny.