2015:159 - Parkroe, Cappawhite, Tipperary

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tipperary Site name: Parkroe, Cappawhite

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 15E0444

Author: David Murphy

Site type: Bronze Age fulachta fiadh

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 589379m, N 648705m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.589427, -8.156704

During monitoring of topsoil stripping associated with the construction of the Cappawhite Wind Farm access road, two levelled fulachta fiadh were discovered in pastureland in the townland of Parkroe. Following consultation with the client (ESB Wind Development Ltd) it was determined that due to onsite constraints it would not be possible to completely avoid both of the identified archaeological sites. While the route of the access road was altered to ensure the preservation in situ of the majority of Area 1, the presence of a stream negated the potential to alter the route to avoid Area 2. An application to excavate a portion of Area 1 and the entirety of Area 2 was, therefore, submitted to the National Monuments Service.
In Area 1 the topsoil, an orangish grey silty loam (average depth 0.2m), was stripped to a safe distance beyond the archaeology. An area measuring 25m north-west/south-east x 11m was fenced off, the burnt spread, which extended beyond the land take of the project to the south-west, measured 19m north-west/south-east x 9m within this area. As construction works only impacted on a 4m wide (maximum) north-west/south-east strip along the north-eastern side of Area 1 it was possible to preserve the majority of this burnt spread in situ.

The burnt spread was composed of a charcoal-enriched, sandy silt deposit with frequent inclusions of heat-shattered stone. It had a general depth of 0.3-0.4m and a maximum depth of 0.5m in the centre of the area. The burnt spread was not contiguous at surface level within the excavation area, in its centre a light yellowish brown sandy silt deposit with occasional non-heat-affected sub-angular stones divided the spread. This would appear to be associated with more recent agricultural activity. At the south-east limit of the area the burnt spread was truncated by a post-medieval field boundary orientated north-east to south-west. After excavation of the overlying deposits, two large features cutting into the natural subsoil were uncovered within the excavation area, both have been interpreted as water-boiling troughs. A sub-circular trough cut was revealed underlying the burnt spread to the immediate north-west of the central baulk. At surface level it measured 1.50m north-south x 1.63m. The depth of the feature was 0.55m. The composition of the fills within feature suggests that it was purposely backfilled and sealed with redeposited soil. A second sub-rectangular trough located 4m to the north-west of the sub-circular trough was likely a later feature. While the majority of the feature was within the excavation area, its south-western end extended beyond the limit of excavation. Its measurable dimensions were 1.7m north-east/south-west x 1.6m and had a maximum depth of 0.75m (measured from the top of its upper fill to base) and a more general depth of 0.5m. It naturally filled with ground water when excavated and there were no traces of a timber or stone lining present. Site preparation works were evident in the form of two introduced deposits in both the north-west and south-east quadrants that had the effect of creating raised platform-like areas that would have provided a working area with improved protection from flood waters.

Area 2 located 20m to the north of Area 1 was overlain by a similar orangish grey silty loam topsoil type (average depth 0.2m); full manual excavation was undertaken as the entirety of the site was due to be impacted upon by construction works. The main burnt spread deposit along with a mixed topsoil and burnt spread material layer measured approximately 11m north-west/south-east x 11.2m.

A number of features were uncovered underlying the burnt spread deposits. In the centre of the site a large, shallow sub-oval cut feature was revealed partially cut into the natural subsoil and partially cut into an underlying site levelling layer. The feature measured 3.7m north-east/south-west x 2.6m and had a depth ranging between 0.1m and 0.2m. The main fill of this cut feature was notable in that its stones, although heat-affected, were not exposed to the same intensity of heat and water submersion as those in the main burnt spread deposit. The stones were larger and less shattered than usual and less charcoal was evident in the soil matrix of the fill. The morphology of the cut feature did not correspond with an interpretation as a water-boiling trough. Its general depth was too shallow and it would have been incapable of retaining water to any great degree. It is probable that this feature had an alternative use such as one involving steaming or roasting. Such processes would have had a less harsh effect on the stones which were being used and therefore they could be reused a greater number of times before they degraded to an unusable condition. The heat-affected stones that remained within the cut when the feature fell out of use had not degraded to the same extent as the surrounding burnt spread and may therefore have been at the beginning of a usage cycle.
In the north-west quadrant of the site approximately 0.7m north-west of the large shallow sub-oval feature and underlying the main burnt spread deposit, two sub-circular layers of charcoal-rich soil were uncovered overlying an area of oxidised subsoil. The maximum dimensions of this feature were 0.9m north-west/south-east x 0.95m with a combined depth of 0.11m. The localised charcoal-rich nature of these deposits, the inclusions of burnt sandstone within the lower fill and the underlying oxidised subsoil indicate that this overall feature was a surface hearth where the sandstone was heated prior to further pyrolithic technology usage.
To the north-east of hearth and still within the north-west quadrant of the site two conjoined pits were uncovered. A sub-circular pit was truncated by a sub-oval pit on its north-west side. As the features lacked the necessary volume to be interpreted as water-boiling troughs it is possible that they were used as storage pits.
The largest feature underlying the burnt spread was a curvilinear ditch which extended in a counter clockwise direction from a point immediately north of the hearth curving north towards the northern limit of the site, then curving to the east and south-east before petering out in the east of the north-east quadrant. In total the ditch was approximately 15m in length, it had a width of between 1.1m and 1.7m, widest at its most northern point, and had a general depth of 0.3m. The break of slope of top was sharp at the outer north-west and north sides of the ditch but otherwise it was gentle with gently sloping sides and a relatively flat base. The ditch was slightly deeper to its north-west and north with a 4m long, 0.4–0.7m wide and 0.2m deep U-shaped cut evident at its base. The ditch created a division between the main archaeological activity of the higher central area of the site and the lower lying area adjacent to a stream which flowed to the immediate north-east of the site. It most likely performed a dual function of protecting and keeping the main central area of activity dry from the adjacent stream while also providing a ready and easily accessible source of standing water for use on site. Groundwater naturally percolated up through the base of the ditch in its deeper portion to the north-west and the depth in this part of the ditch may have been increased in order to aid in the collection of water. Accumulation of burnt spread material within the ditch would suggest that it was open while the site was in use, therefore its fills are likely to post-date the abandonment of the site
This is an initial interpretation of the phasing of the sites based on the archaeological evidence, analysis of environmental samples and radiometric dating will provide vital information crucial to a full interpretation. No archaeological artefacts were recovered during the excavations in Parkroe, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary.

John Cronin and Associates, Unit 3A Westpoint Trade Centre, Ballincollig, Co. Cork