2022:348 - Tullamore, Listowel, Kerry

Following on from its discovery during a previous testing phase (22E0375) at the Tullamore Solar Farm substation location, the basal remains of a charcoal-production pit were subject to archaeological excavation. The feature was apparent at the upper subsoil level as a sub-oval concentration of charcoal-rich soil (C.03) overlaid by a small concentration of light bluish-grey silty clay (C.02) on its north-western side. C.02 measured 1.85m north-east/south-west by 0.55m and varied between 30mm and 70mm in depth (deepest at its north-western side). C.02 may represent the remnants of a sealing layer within the pit.

C.03 was composed of a black, friable mix of charred wood fragments and clayey silt (ratio of c. 50/50). The charred wood fragments were of variable size with some quite large fragments surviving (greater than 100mm length). The deposit measured 2.6m north-east/south-west by 1.48m and had a maximum depth of 50mm and a minimum depth of 20mm. It was overlain by C.02 on its north-western side.

Both C.02 and C.03 were contained within a very shallow cut [C.04] that was only defined in any clarity on its north-western and western sides. Its cut was largely imperceptible on all other sides and its extent was largely identifiable by the extent of it fills (C.02 and C.03). What remained of the feature likely represented the very basal remnants of a previously more substantial cut feature which has been almost completely truncated by modern land improvement works. The surviving remnants comprised a sub-oval shaped shallow cut with rounded corners. It measured 2.6m north-east/south-west by 1.48m and had a maximum depth of 0.1m. The only area with a perceptible cut was along its north-western and western sides, where a sharp break-of-slope at top lead to a short sharply sloping side and a gentle to moderate break-of-slope at base. The break-of-slopes and sides around the remainder of the feature’s edge were largely imperceptible, however, the base of the feature did a have a slight concave effect.

The feature was cut into a light greyish-yellow stony, silty clay natural subsoil. The subsoil within the limits of the feature contained occasional concentrations of oxidisation, indicative of intense in-situ burning activity. A number of depressions at the base of the feature, which were filled by the overlying C.03, and initially were thought to represent potential post-hole-type features, proved on excavation to be just natural shallow depressions in the subsoil with no discernible purposeful cut. The subsoil itself appeared quite mixed across the excavation cutting and this likely occurred during land improvement works.

At the time of submission, any discussion on the date range, wood contents and original environmental setting of the Tullamore charcoal-production pit will have to be reserved until post-excavation archaeobotanical and dating analyses have been completed.

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