County: Offaly Site name: Derryiron, Wood
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0909
Author: Fiona Maguire
Site type: Various
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 653221m, N 734697m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.359800, -7.200459
Fifteen test trenches were excavated at four separate locations across the townlands of Derryiron and Wood, near Rhode, Co. Offaly. Testing was carried out as a result of a condition of planning for a wind farm development. It was undertaken between January 10 and February 3 2023.
Traces of a mill race depicted on nineteenth-century mapping were found in Trenches 2 and 3 in Derryiron townland. It comprised a simple, straight-sided linear drain through the bog, which had been backfilled.
Twenty-seven potential archaeological features were identified at the location of one of the turbines in Wood townland, on a greenfield site immediately east of a section of the Yellow River. The features included large ditch features commensurate with an enclosure, as well as evidence for metalworking activity.
Part of Wood townland formed part of the Greenhill estate. Considerable evidence for land improvement works and agricultural activity was noted during testing.
Three potential features were noted in Trench 13 on the eastern side of the Greenhill Road in Wood. One of the features, a hearth, may be related to activity at the adjacent moated site (SMR OF004-009----). A modern draw well was identified at the southern end of Trench 15.
A number or recommendations were made, including the preservation by record of features identified at the turbine location in Wood townland.
Horizon Archaeology Ltd., Kilmainham, Mountmellick, Co. Laois
