Download pdf - Archaeological Report - Park 2, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)

Issue 11 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report

E3772 - Park 2, Co. Tipperary

Burnt Mound

Eachtra Journal

December 2011


Co Tipperary

Laois County Council and National Roads Authority

Jacinta Kiely and John Tierney

Park 2

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

E No:

:

Project:

Client:

Date:

E3772

N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1)

John TierneyExcavation Director

Written by:

Burnt Mound

CORKThe Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork

tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]

GALWAY Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway

tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]


Park 2Co Tipperary

Excavation Director

John Tierney

Written By

Jacinta Kiely and John Tierney

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

© Eachtra Archaeological Projects 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork

Set in 12pt Garamond

Printed in Ireland

i

Table of ContentsSummary��iii

Acknowledgements�� iv

1 Scopeoftheproject�� 1

2 Routelocation�� 2

3 Receivingenvironment�� 2

4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground�� 4Neolithic�(c��4000�to�2000�BC)�� 4

5 SiteLocationandTopography�� 7

6 Excavationmethodology�� 7

7 Excavationresults�� 11Layers�of�burnt�mound�material�� 11

The�Trough,�post-holes,�well�and�pits��15

Modern�agricultural�activity��15

Plant�remains��17

Animal�bone��18

Charcoal��18

Radiocarbon�dates��18

8 Discussion�� 19

9 References��23

Appendix1 StratigraphicIndex��25

Appendix2 SiteMatrix�� 26

Appendix3 Groupsandsubgroups��30

Appendix4 Plantremainsreport�� 39

Appendix5Animalbonereport�� 42

ii

List of FiguresFigure1: Portion of map of Ireland showing the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh

(DerrinsallaghtoBallintotty)RoadScheme(Contract1)�� 3

Figure2: Discovery series OS map showing the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh(Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) Road Scheme (Contract 1) and the location of allexcavationsites�� 5

Figure3: PortionoftheIsteditionOrdnanceSurveyMapTN22showingthelocationofPark2�� 8

Figure4: LocationandextentofPark2E3772ontheN7CastletowntoNenagh��10

Figure5: Post-excavationplanofPark2E3772�� 12

Figure6: Post-excavationplanoftroughC�5�� 14

Figure7: SectionofwellC�119,ditchC�54andtroughC�5��16

Figure8: PrehistoricsitesonandintheenvironsofN7CastletowntoNenagh��20

List of PlatesPlate1: AerialviewofPark2�� 9

Plate2: ViewofPark2fromsouth-west�� 11

Plate3: ViewoftroughC�5,wellC�119andpitC�183fromwest�� 13

Plate4: ViewoftroughC�5fromwest�� 13

Plate5: ViewofwellC�119fromnorth�� 17

Plate6: ViewofpitC�183fromsouth�� 17

List of TablesTable1: Dimensionsoftrough,wellandpits�� 15

Table2: Radiocarbondates��18

Table3: RadiocarbondatesfromtheburntmoundsitesontheN7CastletowntoNenagh(Contract1)��21

Park 2-E3772

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http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/E3772-park2-co-tipperary/

SummaryThe excavation of the site at Park comprised a substantial mound of burnt material. The mound measured 32 m by 16 m by 0.5 m in depth. It overlay a trough, a well and two pits. Evidence of trough-side furniture in the form of 17 stake-holes and two post-holes was recorded at the western end of the trough. Two Middle Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were returned from a fill of the trough and the well. Small quantities of plant remains and animal bone were recovered from the site.

Road project name N7 Castletown to Nenagh Site name Park 2E no. E3772Site director John TierneyTownland ParkParish Aghnameadle and BallymackeyCounty TipperaryBarony Upper OrmondOS Map Sheet No. TN22National Grid Reference 200173 181436Elevation 114 m O.D.

iSSUE 11: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEological Excavation rEPort

iv

AcknowledgementsThe project was commissioned by Laois County Council and was funded by the Na-tional Roads Authority under the National Development Plan (2000–2006). The project archaeologist was Niall Roycroft. Kildare County Council supervised the archaeological contract with RE staff of Pat Dowling and Colum Fagan. Kildare County Council Sen-ior Executive Engineer was Joseph Kelly and Kildare County Council Senior Engineer was John Coppinger. The senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation manager was Jacinta Kiely. Illustrations are by Maurizio Toscano, photographs by John Sunderland and Eagle Photography and aerial photography by StudioLab. Specialist anal-ysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Margaret McCarthy and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast.

Park 2-E3772

1


1 Scope of the project Eachtra Archaeological Projects were commissioned by Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority to undertake archaeological works along 17.1 km (Contact 1) of the 35km N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) national road scheme (EIS approved in November 2005). The scheme runs from the eastern junction of the present N7 Nenagh Bypass, North Tipperary a tie in to the M7/M8 Portlaoise-Castletown scheme to the south of Borris-in-Ossory in County Laois. The scheme is ap-proximately 191 hectares. Contract 1 comprises the western half of the scheme and runs from Clashnevin to Castleroan passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county border regions. The Ministers Direction Number is A38.

It was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000–2006. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Laois County Council as part of the Authority’s commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct ar-chaeological site investigations within the lands made available for the scheme and to assess the nature and extent of any new potential archaeological sites uncovered.

Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in 2007 under licence E3371, E3372 and E3375–8 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeo-logical potential identified in the EIS.

Phase 2 of the project (resolution) involved the resolution of all archaeological sites identified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the construction of the road. This phase of the project was carried out from June 2007 to February 2008 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. A total of 27 sites were excavated during this phase of works under separate licences issued by DoEHLG.

A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of the project to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work aris-ing from archaeological works along the route of the new N7 Castletown to Nenagh. It included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works.


2

2 Route locationThe route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road is located in Counties North Tipperary and Offaly (OF) (Figure 1). The project (Contract 1) involves the construction of c. 17.5 km of the N7 from Clashnevin east of Nenagh to Castleroan south-east of Dunkerrin. It passes through the townlands of Clashnevin, Derrybane, Newtown, Lissanisky, Killeisk, Garavally, Derrycarney, Garrynafanna, Gortnadrumman, Kilgorteen, Falleen, Knock-ane, Clash, Park, Rosdremid (OF), Clynoe (OF), Cullenwaine, Moneygall, Greenhills, Drumbaun, Busherstown (OF), Drumroe (OF), Moatquarter, Loughan (OF) and Cas-tleroan (OF). The townlands are located in the parishes of Ballymackey, Cullenwaine, Castletownely, Rathnaveoge, Finglas and Dunkerrin and the baronies of Upper Ormond, Ikerrin and Clonisk,

The route begins at the eastern end of the Nenagh bypass at Clashnevin c. 5 km east of Nenagh and continues eastward on the northern side of the existing N7 in Co. Tip-perary. It crosses a number of third class roads to the north of Toomyvara and 0.7 km east of Clash crossroads crosses the Ollatrim River. It extends into County Offaly directly east of Park. From here it crosses the R490 0.6 km north of Moneygall. It extends back in County Tipperary and through the demesne of Greenhills before crossing the existing N7 at the junction of Greenhills and Drumbaun townlands. It crosses back into County Offaly and climbs east into Busherstown and Drumroe. It crosses the Keeloge Stream into Moatquarter in County Tipperary and extends northeast back into County Offaly through the townlands of Loughan and Castleroan 1.4 km southwest of Dunkerrin.

3 Receiving environmentNorth Tipperary is bounded on the west by the River Shannon and Lough Derg with the Silvermines, to the south, and small hills extending towards Devilsbit and Borrisnoe Mountains to the east. The mountains are composed largely of Silurian strata and Old Red Sandstone. Copper, silver and lead deposits have been mined in the Silvermines. The geology of the lowlands consists of Carboniferous limestone covered by glacial drift in addition to tracts of raised bog.

The western portion of the study area is drained by the Ollatrim River which flows westwards into the River Ballintotty which in turns drains into the River Nenagh. The eastern portion is drained by the Keeloge Stream and other small water sources. These rise in the foothills of the Silvermine Mountains and flow north. The Keeloge drains into the Little Brosna River c. 1 km south of Shinrone, Co Offaly. The Brosna turns north and drains into the Shannon south of Banagher.

The largest population centre in the area is Nenagh. The smaller population centres, are Toomyvara, Moneygall and Dunkerrin.

The soils on the route are characterised by 80% grey brown podzolics, 10% gleys, 5% brown earths and 5% basin peat. They are derived from glacial till of predominantly Car-boniferous limestone composition. These soils occur in Tipperary and Offaly and have a

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wide use range being suitable for both tillage and pasture (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 97–99). Land use along the route was a mix of grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing and tillage.

4 Archaeological and historical backgroundArchaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the new road (Figure 2). The periods are referred to as follows: Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC), Neo-lithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600 BC), and Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500), early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to 1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 to the present).

Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 8000 BC - 4000 BC). The majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Mesolithic occupa-tion has come from the river valleys. No evidence for the Mesolithic was recorded on the route.

Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the begin-nings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became more sedentary in nature. The most important Neolithic site in the vicinity was at Tullahedy recorded on the route of the Nenagh by-pass. It was a specialist chert arrow manufactur-ing site.

No evidence for a Neolithic site was recorded on the route but stone tools dating to the Neolithic were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Clash E3660, Cullenwaine E3741 and Greenhills 2 and 3 E3637 and E3658. Stone tools dating to the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Castleroan E3909, Cullenwaine E3741, Derrybane 1 E3585, Drumroe E3773, Greenhills 1 E3638 and Moatquarter E3910

Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600BC)The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase in settlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold items manufactured. The range of burial site types includes cist graves, pit and urn burials, cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and stand-ing stones also date to the Bronze Age. Both enclosed and unenclosed settlement sites are known. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh. These monuments survive as low mounds of charcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and generally situated close to a water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cook-

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ing places’, whereby stones were heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough of water, the water continued to boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food was cooked within the hot water. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound.

Two new fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds were recorded at Clashnevin 1 E3586, Cullenwaine E3741 and six at three separate locations in Greenhills, E3638, E3637 and E3658. Evidence of nine roundhouses or partial round structures were recorded; two at Castleroan E3909, Derrybane 2 E3591 and Drumbaun 2 E3912 and one at Clash E3660, Drumroe E3773 and Moatquarter E3910.

Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)Upto recently there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in Munster. Settlement sites are few and far between as well as being difficult to identify (Woodman, 2000) while the material culture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, believed to have marked tribal boundaries, and hillforts are two of the most visible monuments of the period. Ten percent of sites excavated on NRA road schemes in recent years have produced Iron Age dates. The dates have led to the identification of 30 new Iron Age sites in Munster from road schemes in counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary (McLaughlin 2008, 51). These include a ditched enclosure in Ballywilliam and a wooden trackway in Annaholty Bog excavated on the route of the N7 Nenagh-Limerick (Taylor 2008, 54). Evidence of domestic activity dating to the Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age was re-corded at Clashnevin 2.

Early medieval period (c. AD 400 to 1100)The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000 and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s (Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu-lar society (Stout 1997).

North Tipperary is rich in early ecclesiastical sites and the remains of these religious centres are at the core of some of the towns and villages. Roscrea, for example, was chosen by St Cronan as a location for his monastery in the seventh century as it was located at the crossroads on the Slighe Dála, an important roadway in early medieval times (NIAH 2006, 4–8).

A possible early medieval enclosure and associated road way was recorded at Killeisk E3587. A denuded ringfort (OF046–013) was excavated at Clynoe 2 E3774.

Park 2-E3772

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High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tow-er houses. The Anglo-Normans obtained charters in the thirteenth century for the towns of Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Templemore and established markets. Nenagh grew rapidly in the aftermath of the granting of the lands of Munster to Theobald fitzWalter in 1185 (ibid. 8). Moated sites represent the remains of isolated, semi-defended homesteads in rural areas. They were build mainly in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth cen-turies in counties, such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, mid-Cork and Limerick, that were colonised by English settlers (O’Conor 1998, 58). The Archaeological Inventory for North Tipperary lists 39 moated sites (2002, 298).

A newly recorded moated site was excavated at Busherstown E3661.

Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present).The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). A small demesne associated with a county house was recorded in the townland of Greenhills.

5 Site Location and TopographyPark 2 was located in a low-lying area on the lower edge of a sandy ridge overlooking a wetter boggy area (Plate 1). The extensive archaeological settlement site Park 1 E3659 extended over, higher drier ground, for a distance of 500 m to the east. Extensive archaeo-logical remains, including five burnt mounds, were recorded in the land adjoining Park to the north and east during an assessment of the site for a motorway service area (Frazer 2009). The Ollatrim River flows on the western side of the ridge. The townland bound-ary between Park and Rosdrehid and Clynoe to the east also serves as the county bounds between Tipperary and Offaly.

6 Excavation methodologyThe site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision. Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued radially outward until the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeological features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and mean-ingful record of the site to be preserved. The excavation, environmental sampling, site photographs, site drawings, find care and retrieval, on-site recording and site archive was as per the Procedures for Archaeological works as attached to the licence method state-ments for excavation licences.

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The site was excavated from 29 September 2007 to the 17 November 2007. Only areas within the LMA (lands made available) were resolved. The full extent of the area of exca-vation measured 1900 m sq (Figure 4).

The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register (Appendix 1) and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3). The context register and site photographs maybe viewed in the EAPOD (Eachtra Archaeological Projects office database) in the accompanying CD.

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7 Excavation resultsThe excavation of the site at Park comprised a substantial mound of burnt material (Fig-ure 5). The mound measured 32 m by 16 m by 0.5 m in depth. It overlay a trough, a well and two pits (Plate 2). Evidence of trough-side furniture in the form of 17 stake-holes and two post-holes was recorded at the western end of the trough. Two Middle Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were returned from a fill of the trough and the well. Small quantities of plant remains were recovered from the site. A modern field boundary and a quarry pit were recorded in the area of excavation.

Layers of burnt mound material The burnt mound comprised several layers (C.3, C.14, C.17, C.18, C.20, C.41, C.42, C.55, C.69, C.87, C.88, C.93, C.94, C.95, C.96, C.97, C.98, C.114 and C.117). The main layer C.3 was a black silty sandy with inclusions of stone. It measured 32.6 m in length by 16.4 m in width and 0.48 m in depth. Four other layers (C.41, C.55, C.69 and C.117) were similar in composition to the primary layer. Four layers (C.14, C.42, C.87 and C.88) were recorded overlying the main layer of burnt mound material. At least five layers (C.15, C.80, C.81, C.82 and C.185) were derived from re-deposited material from the excavation of the cut features. They were a mix of sands and silts. Seven layers of sand (C.93, C.94,

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C.95, C.96, C.97, C.98 and C.114) were recorded underlying the main layer of burnt mound material

The Trough, post-holes, well and pitsThe trough C.5 was a large oval pit that was centrally located beneath the mound (Figure 6, Plate 3). It was cut into a slope and was deepest at the western end. The basal fill C.4 was a grey sandy silt. The primary fills (C.17, C.18 and C.20) were layers of burnt mound material. A Middle Bronze Age date of cal BC 1508–1422 (UB-12351) was returned from pomideae charcoal from the fill C.4.

Context Dimensions ShapeTrough C.5 4.26 x 1.6 x 0.62 RectangularWell C.119 4.52 x 2.86 x 0.6 OvalPit C.183 1.9 x 1.65 x 0.29 OvalPit C.197 1.72 x 1.38 x 0.37 Oval

Table1Dimensionsoftrough,wellandpits

Two postholes (C.133 and C.137) were located on the northern and southern side of the trough respectively (Plate 4). Post-hole C.133 was circular in plan and measured 0.45 m by 0.38 m by 0.32 m in depth. Post-hole C.137 was measured 0.77 m by 0.51 m by 0.37 m in depth.

A group of 17 stake-holes were located at the western end of the trough. Three of the stake-holes were located between the posts and the edge of the trough, two (C.142 and C.146) on the southern side and one C.139 on the northern. Five of the stake-holes (C.189, C.153, C.151, C.49 and C.143) formed an approximate arc on the periphery of the cluster. Four (C.147, C.155, C.191 and C.193) were located within the arc. Five (C.157, C.159, C.161, C.163 and C.165) were situated in a very close cluster.

The well C.119 was located 2 m east of the trough. It was oval in plan (Figure 7, Plate 5). The four fills (C.129, C.130, C.131, C.132) were a mix of sands and silts. Ground water was recorded in the base of the well during the course of the excavation.

Two oval pits (C.183 and C.197) were located to the north of the trough. The pits were similar in terms of size and plan. Pit C.183 was located 3 m north of the trough (Plate 6). Pit C.197 was located 5 m north of pit C.183. It had been cut by the field boundary C.54.

Modern agricultural activityA field boundary C.54 orientated north-east /south-west was recorded in the northern sec-tion of the area of excavation. It was marked on the 1st edition OS map sheet TN22. The ditch was 3 m wide by 0.6 m in depth. Sherds of 19 century creamware and a tin brooch (E3772:86:1 and E3772:57:1) were recorded in the ditch.

A possible quarry pit C.49 had cut the field boundary. It measured 5 m by 3 m and was 0.6 m in depth. The fills were a mix of brown silts.

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Park 2-E3772

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Plant remainsThe plant remains were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 4). Small quantities of charred plant remains, including hulled and naked barley and hazelnut shell fragments, were recovered from the basal fill of the trough, a layer of burnt mound material, the

Plate5: ViewofwellC�119fromnorth�

Plate6: ViewofpitC�183fromsouth�


18

quarry pit and a stake-hole. The seeds recovered from the well were un-charred. The plant remains were recovered in small quantities and are likely to be accidental inclusions.

Animal bone The animal bone was examined by Margaret McCarthy (Appendix 5). The quantity of bones recovered from Park 2 was very small and apart from documenting the presence of cattle at the site no other dietary information can be extrapolated from the data. Four adult cattle teeth were recovered from one of the layers (C87) of burnt mound material. The fill (C57) of a modern field boundary also contained cattle teeth, two molars from an adult individual.

CharcoalThe charcoal was identified for radiocarbon dating by Mary Dillon. Pomideae charcoal and hazel charcoal were identified from the fills of the trough and the well respectively.

Radiocarbon datesRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University

Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986–2005 M.Stuiver & P.J. Re-imer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.

Lab code Context Material Un-cali-brated date

δ 13 C

1 sigma calibration 2 sigma calibration

UB-12351

4 Pomideae charcoal from trough C.5

3197 +/- 24 -24.2 BC 1494–1471 1466–1443

BC 1508–1422

UB-12352 132 Hazel charcoal from well C.119

3220 +/- 24 -25.3 BC 1505–1453 BC 1527–1433

Table2:Radiocarbondates

Park 2-E3772

19


8 DiscussionA fulacht fiadh / burnt mound were recorded on low ground in Park. The layers of burnt mound material overlay a trough, pits and a well. Many theories speculate as to the actual use of burnt mound/fulacht fiadh sites (e.g. O’Kelly 1954; Ó Drisceoil 1988). We recog-nise the sites archaeologically by the remains of charcoal and heat shattered stones but as Ó Néill (2004) points out, these are the remains of a technology (the use of hot stones known as ‘pyrolithic technology’), rather than specific indications of the aims of the proc-ess. The large trough and smaller pits indicate that there was extensive use of hot stone technology at this site and that it was probably used for heating water.

Burnt mounds are the most common Bronze Age sites found in Ireland. Estimates suggest that at least 4,500 examples are known. The characteristic site-type is found in low-lying and damp ground and consists of a mound of charcoal-rich black sediment that is packed with heat shattered stones and forms a horse-shoe shape around a pit or trough that filled with water. In many cases all that survives to the present day are black charcoal rich deposits with fragments of shattered stones visible in ploughed fields.

These sites are associated with the process of roasting stones to heat water. The remains of these ‘pyrolithic technologies’ (terminology follows Ó Néill 2004) produce the tell-tale deposits rich in charcoal and heat-affected stone. Debate continues about their use, as hot water is required for many processes including cooking, brewing, washing, dyeing and, most recently it has been argued that some burnt mounds were primarily used to boil and cure meat for long term storage (Roycroft 2006).

Traditionally these sites have been interpreted as ancient cooking places, where large stones were heated in fires and then added to the water filled trough the extreme heat of the stones eventually heating the water in the trough until it reached boiling point. Experimental cooking at reconstructed sites such as Ballyvourney (O’Kelly 1954) has demonstrated that meat wrapped in straw and placed into a boiling trough can be cooked quite effectively. The perceived lack of any animal bones from these excavated sites has been used as an argument against this theory. More recently however there is a growing corpus of sites which have produced animal bone (Tourunen 2008) including, though the amounts are small, all of the burnt mounds sites on the N7 (Contract 1).

The traditional perception of the burnt mound site is that they are isolated features on the landscape situated on marginal ground away from settlement. Recent studies how-ever are requiring a re-evaluation of this perception. It can be regarded as certain that the settlement sites and associated burnt mounds are only one part of a wider prehistoric landscape which also includes lithic production and metalworking sites as well as burial sites (Sternke 2009). Each of the six sites excavated on the N7 was located with a 1km ra-dius of a Bronze Age settlement site, Clashnevin within 1 km east of Derrybane 2 E3591, the site at Park E3772 was one of complex of burnt mound sites in the vicinity of Park 1 E3659 and the three sites at Greenhills (E3638, E3637, and E3658) within 1 km east of Drumbaun E3912.

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21


The inventory for North Tipperary lists 77 burnt mounds (Farrelly 2002) and the inventory for Offaly lists 14 (O’Brien 1997) (Figure 8). Many more sites have been re-corded since the inventories were published. A total of six burnt mounds including Park were excavated on the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1). At least 15 burnt mound sites were excavated on the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 2) with a concentration of 11 sites in the townland of Camlin. Burnt mounds were also excavated on the route of the Nenagh by-pass and the Limerick Ring Road. A further five sites were recorded in Park and Rosdrehid townlands during the testing of the service area site (Frazer 2009).

Site Name E No. Radiocarbon date 2 sigma calibration PeriodClashnevin 1 E3586 BC 1262–1110 1103–1072 1068–1056 Middle Bronze AgeClashnevin 1 E3586 AD 982–1040 MedievalCullenwaine E3741 BC 2462 - 2294 Early Bronze AgeGreenhills 1 E3638 BC 2133 - 1950 Early Bronze AgeGreenhills 2 E3637 BC 1889–1748 Early Bronze AgeGreenhills 2 E3637 BC 2561–2536 2492–2299 Early Bronze AgeGreenhills 3 E3658 BC 1125–975 954–943 Middle Bronze AgeGreenhills 3 E3658 BC 2465–2286 2246–2243 Early Bronze AgeGreenhills 3 E3658 BC 1876–1841 1823–1797 1781–1683 Early Bronze AgePark 2 E3772 BC 1508–1422 Middle Bronze AgePark 2 E3772 BC 1527–1433 Middle Bronze Age

Table3:RadiocarbondatesfromtheburntmoundsitesontheN7CastletowntoNenagh(Contract1)

Most dated burnt mound sites have a focus of activity in the Middle to Late Bronze Age (Brindley and Lanting 1990; and see graph of dates in Ó Néill 2003/2004). In all ten radiocarbon dates were obtained from the burnt mound sites on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh. The majority of the sites are Early Bronze Age in date.

There are six main types of archaeological features encountered at burnt mound sites; wells/springs, layers/deposits, hearths, trough/boiling pits, smaller pits, and stakeholes/postholes. Five of the six feature types were recorded at Park. The mound overlay a trough, pits and a large well. There is no water course in proximity to the site but the well, cut into the water table would have provided any water that was needed and the site is located on the edge of a wet boggy area. The mound at Park survived to a height of 0.5 m and several layers were identified within the mound of burnt material. No formal hearth was identified in association with the mound. A substantial trough was located 2 m west of the well. A total of 17 stake-holes and two post-holes were located at the western end of the trough. It is envisaged that the three components, the trough and the trough-side furniture constructed from the stake-holes and the pair of opposing posts, would have functioned in unison in food processing. A similar type of trough-side furniture was re-corded at one of the troughs at Clashnevin 1 E3586. Two pits located to the north of the trough may have functioned as boiling pits. They may have held containers made from organic material such as baskets or wooden buckets and would have functioned in con-junction with the other elements at the site in food processing.


22

There were six burnt mound sites recorded on the route of the N7 (Contract 1). All of the sites conformed to a general common design but there were a number of differences that distinguished one site from another. The water source that was used at each site was different. A substantial well was recorded at Clashnevin, a less substantial well was record-ed at Park. In addition the sites at Greenhills and Park were located on the edge of wet boggy ground. There was no obvious water source at Cullenwaine. There were no stone tools recovered from the burnt mound at Clashnevin. In contrast they were recovered from four of the other five sites. The presence of the flint and chert scrapers suggests that hide-processing and wood- and/or bone-working were some of the activities that could have been carried out at these sites.

Park 2-E3772

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9 ReferencesBrindley, A.L. and Lanting, J.N. (1990) ‘The dating of fulachta fiadh’, in Buckley, V.

(ed.) Burnt Offerings. International contributions to burnt mound archaeology, 55–56. Dublin, Wordwell.

Farrelly, J., and O’Brien, C. (2002) Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary Vol. 1 - North Tipperary, The Stationery Office Dublin.

Frazer, W. (2009) Archaeological Assessment Report Nenagh NRA Service Area Park townland, North Co. Tipperary and Roshedrid and Clynoe townlands, Co. Offaly 09E122. Margaret Gowan & Co. Ltd. Unpublished report.

Gardiner, M.J. and Radford,T. (1980) Soil Associations of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.

McLaughlin, M. and Conran, S. (2008) ‘The emerging Iron Age of South Munster’ in Seanda, Issue 3, 51–53. Dublin.

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (2006) An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of North Tipperary. Government of Ireland.

O’Brien, C. (1997) Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly, The Stationery Office, Dublin.

O’Conor, K.D. (1998) The Archaeology of Medieval Rural Settlement in Ireland, Discovery Programme Monographs No 3, Discovery Programme/Royal Irish Academy Dublin.

O’Kelly, M.J. (1954) Excavations and experiments in Irish cooking places. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol 84.

Ó Néill, J. (2003/2004) Lapidibus in igne calefactis coquebatur: The historical burnt mound “tradition”, Journal of Irish Archaeology Vol. XII & XIII.

Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. (2004) ‘IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP’, Radiocarbon 46, 1029–1058.


24

Roycroft, N. (2006) A theory on Boiled Bull and Burnt Mounds, Seanda Issue 1, 38–39, National Road Authority, Dublin.

Roycroft, N. (2008) Before, during and after the Kingdom of Ely, Seanda, Issue 3. 34–35, National Road Authority, Dublin.

Sternke, F. (2009) More than meets the eye; an appraisal of the lithic assemblages from the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1). Seanda. Issue 4, 30–31,National Road Authority, Dublin.

Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. (1993) ‘Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program’, Radiocarbon 35, 215–230.

Stout, M. (1997) The Irish Ringfort. Dublin, Four Courts Press.

Taylor, K. (2008) ‘At home and on the road: two Iron Age sites in County Tipperary’ in Seanda, Issue 3, 54–55. Dublin.

Tourunen, A. (2008) Fauna and fulachta fiadh: animal bones from burnt mounds on the N9/N10 Carlow Bypass. In J. O’Sullivan and M. Stanley (eds.), Roads, Rediscovery and Research. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograh Series No. 5. Wordwell.

Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’., pp. 1 -10 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Bray, Wordwell.

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Appendix 1 Stratigraphic Index

Please see attached CD.


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Appendix 3 Groups and Subgroups

Group No.

Description Subgroup No.

Description Context No.

Group 1 Natural deposits A Topsoil C.1B Subsoil C.2

Group 2 Trough and as-sociated features

A Trough C.5

B Re-deposited layers associ-ated with Trough

C.52, C.53, C.123, C.135

C Postholes C.133, C.137

D Stakeholes C.139, C.142, C.143, C.146, C.147, C.149, C.151, C.153, C.155, C.157, C.159, C.161, C.163, C.165, C.189, C.191, C.193.

Group 3 Well and associ-ated features

A Well C.119

B Re-deposited Layers

C. 99, C.100, C.120, C.121, C.122, C.127, C.128

Group 4 Pits A Pit close to trough C.183B Pit Underneath Field

Boundary C.197

Group 5 Layers of burnt mound material

A Main layers of burnt mound material

C.3, C.41, C.52 C.117

B Layers of re-deposited material within mound

C.15, C.41, C.55, C.69, C.80, C.81, C.82, C.185

C Re-deposited material underlying main layer of burnt mound material

C.93, C.94, C.95, C.96, C.97, C.98.

D layers of burnt mound ma-terial overlying the main layer of burnt mound material

C.14, C.42, C.87, C.88.

Group 6 Modern features A Field Boundary C.54B Re-deposited natural asso-

ciated with field boundaryC.177, C.178, C.179, C.180, C.181, C.182, C.186

C Quarry C.49D Furrows C.89, C.91

Group 7 Natural features A C.7, C.10, C.13, C.21, C.22, C.24, C.30, C.34, C.35, C.37, C.38, C.46, C.48, C.56, C.70, C.101, C.102, C.103, C.107, C.109, C.124, C.169, C.172

Park 2-E3772

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Group 1 Natural Deposits

Subgroup A

Topsoil C.1Description A dark brown, peaty silt topsoil

Subgroup B

Subsoil C. 2Description A light grey, silty sand subsoilInterpretation

Group 2 Trough and associated features

Subgroup A

Trough C.5 (fills C. 4, C.17, C.18, and C.20)Description A trough located centrally under the fulacht mound, rectangular in shape, measuring 4.26m long, 1.6mwide, and .62 m in depth. The trough was cut into the slope, and was deepest to the west, while the maximum depth at the eastern end was approximately .15m in depth. The trough was filled by two fills. The primary fill was a dark greyish black, stony, silty sand with a large amount of burned stone and a moderate amount of charcoal. The secondary fill was a light yellowish, brownish grey sandy silt. This was a layer from above the trough which has slumped into the cut of the trough.

InterpretationThis trough was a typical trough found in a fulacht fiadh. It was likely used to heat water, which may have been supplied from the well C.119. Three of the layers of burnt mound material C.17, C.18 and C.20 had slumped into the trough and overlay the basal fill C.4

Subgroup B

Redeposited Natural Associated with Trough C.53, C.123, C.135Description These are layers of redeposited soil located near the trough, which may be indicative of either the initial excavation of the trough, or with cleaning episodes of the trough.


32

Subgroup C

Postholes C.133 (fills C.134, C.136) and C.137 (fill C.138)Description Two postholes located on either side of the western end of the trough. The northern posthole C.133 was circular, 0.45 m long, 0.38 m wide and 0.32 m deep. The primary fill (C.134) was a dark brown silt with a large amount of stones. There was a hollow area in the centre, which may indicate the removal of the post. The stones in this fill may be packing material, which has collapsed into the cut. The secondary fill was located in the southwest corner of the cut and appeared to be a mix of natural subsoil and burnt mound material.

The southern posthole C.137 was sub-circular in plan with steep sides. It measured 0.77 by 0.51 by 0.37 m in depth. The fill C.138 was a black silty sand with inclusions of stones and charcoal. InterpretationThe postholes were located on either side of the western end of the trough.

Subgroup D

17 Stakeholes C.139 (fill C.140), C.142 (fill C.141), C.143, (fill C.144), C.146 (fill C.145), C.147 (fill C.148), C.149 (fill C.150), C.151 (fill C.152), C.153 (fill C.154), C.155 (fill C.156) C.157 (fill C.158), C.159 (fill C.160), C.161 (fill C.162), C.163 (fill C.164), C.165 (fill C.166), C.189 (fill C.190), C.191 (fill C.192), C.193 (fill C.194)Description The average measurement was 0.12m by 0.10m with the average depth being 0.9m. All the stakeholes are circular to sub-circular in plan. The sides are all smooth and vertical. InterpretationSeventeen stakeholes on western side of trough

Group 3 Well and associated material

Subgroup A Well

Well C.119, (fills C.129, C.130, C.131, C.132)Description The cut was sub-circular in plan with rounded corners. The break of slope top and base were both gradual. The sides were steep and smooth on NE, moderate and irregular on SW, steep and concave on SE, steep and stepped on NW. The base was oval in plan and concave in profile. The cut measured 4.52m NE SW by 2.86m and had a maximum depth of 0.6m. The upper fill was a weakly cemented, dark black stony sand. The next fill was a soft, dark brownish grey peaty silt with occasional small pieces of charcoal. The next layer

Park 2-E3772

33


was a loose, dark greyish black, sandy, stony silt. The basal layer was a firm, mid brown silty sand.InterpretationCut of pit located 2 m west of trough C5. Deliberated excavated for some purpose as-sociated with burnt mound. Possible well- base filled slightly with ground water during excavation. May have been used as a water source for trough C5.

Subgroup B

Redeposited Material Associated with Well Layers C. 99, C.100, C.122, C.120, C.121, C.127, C.128Description The layer C.99 was a soft, light yellowish brownish grey sandy silt. Underneath that layer was C.100, which was a soft, light yellowish brownish grey sandy silt. These layers are redeposited natural. Both are present as a positive feature similar to nearby feature C120. The upper layer of this positive feature was a firm, dark brown silt. The middle fill was a soft, light greyish brown sandy silt. The basal layer was a firm, dark brown silt. The layer C.127 was a soft, light yellowish brownish grey sandy silt. Underlying this was the layer C.128, which was a soft, mid reddish brown clayey, peaty silt.InterpretationThese contexts form three positive features of redeposited natural. Material possibly cast-up from the pit C119.

Group 4 Pits

Subgroup A

Pit C.183 (fills C.184, C.187, and C.188)DescriptionThe cut was oval in plan with rounded corners. The break of slope top and base were sharp. The sides were moderate and smooth on N, steep and smooth/concave on S, steep and smooth/stepped on E, steep and smooth on W. The base was oval in plan and flat in profile. The cut measured 1.9m by 1.65m had a maximum depth of 0.29m and was ori-entated east west. The upper fill was a very soft, dark black stony silt. The next fill was a firm, dark reddish brown peaty silt. The basal layer was a loose, light yellowish grey silty, stony sand.InterpretationCut of a possible pit. Regular shape indicates that it was probably a pit rather than a naturally formed feature; however, shallow depth suggests it was unlikely to be a trough. Fulacht material within fill suggests it was contemporary with fulacht. May be related to trough cut C5 in close proximity.


34

Subgroup B

Pit Underneath Field Boundary C.197 (fills C.195, C.196)Description The pit was oval in plan with rounded corners. The break of slope top was gradual. The sides were steep and smooth on W, moderate and smooth elsewhere. The break of slope base was imperceptible. The base was oval in plan and concave in profile. The pit meas-ured 1.72m north south by 1.38m and had a maximum depth of 0.37m. The upper fill of the pit was a weakly cemented, mid greyish black silty sand, while the basal fill was filled with loose grey pebbles.InterpretationCut of pit. The regular shape would suggest formation due to human activity. Presence of charcoal, roots and animal teeth in the fill are indicative of human activity. Pit pre-dates field boundary C54 and was truncated by this field boundary.

Group 5 Layers of burnt mound material

Subgroup A

Main Layers of Mound C.3, C.41, C.55, C.69, C.117Description The upper layer C.117 was a compact black silty sand and was a layer which occurred over the mound. The main layer was C.3, which was a stiff, dark greyish black silty sand and stones and represents the burnt mound material covering the majority of the site. The layer measured 32.6m north south by 16.4m and had a maximum depth of 0.48m. The next layer C.41 measured 2.91m north south by 2.91m and had a maximum depth of 0.15m and comprised of a firm, dark greyish black silt. The next layer C.55 was also a firm, dark greyish black silt. The layer C.69 was a soft dark greyish black silt. InterpretationThese contexts represent the burnt mound material covering the majority of the site. This material was formed due to human factors - stones were heated, added to the trough to boil water and then were discarded to form the layers.

Subgroup B

Layers of Re-deposited Material within Mound C.15, C.80, C.81, C.82, C.185Description C.15 was a weakly cemented light brownish yellow sand and was located between con-texts C.41 and C.55. The layer C.80 was a compact dark grey clayey silty sand. Directly under C.80 was C.81, which was a soft, dark grey sandy silt. The next layer was a C.82,

Park 2-E3772

35


which was a compact, mid grey silty sand. The final layer of re-deposited material was a weakly cemented, light grey sand which was located between layers C.94 and C.114.InterpretationThese layers of re-deposited material occur within the mound and maybe as a result of excavation of pits and troughs.

Subgroup C

Layers of re-deposited material underlying main layer of burnt mound material C.93, C.94, C.95, C.96, C.97, C.98, C.114Description The upper layer was a compact light yellowish grey sand. The next layer was a compact, light greyish black silty sand. Underlying this was a compact, mid greyish white sand. The next layer was a loose, mid greyish white sand. The layer C.97 was a weakly cemented, mid greyish white sand. Underlying this was a compact, light brownish white silty sand. The basal layer was a stiff, mid brown clayey silt.InterpretationThese layers formed through the dumping of burnt mound material mixed with subsoil and oxidisation processes.

Subgroup D

Small layers of burnt mound material overlying the main moundC.3, C.14, C.42, C.87, C.88,

C.3 was the main layer that comprised the mound of burnt material. There were several mixed layers of re-deposited burnt mound material underlying the main layer. Its difficult to trace all the layers and whether they were primary layers or re-deposited layers but they all make up the mound. C.14 and C.42 were both weakly cemented, light orangish brown silts and maybe a natural transference layer between topsoil and burnt mound ma-terial C3. The layer C.87 was a soft, mid brown peaty silt and may have formed through the natural accumulation of soil over the burnt mound material. The layer C.88 was a firm, dark greyish black clayey, stony silt which was mixed burnt mound material. InterpretationThese layers represent the natural formation of soils over the mound since its last use.

Group 6 Modern Features

Subgroup A

Field Boundary C.54 (fills C.57-C.67, C.72- C.79 and C.83-C.86)Description


36

The cut was linear in plan and the base was linear in plan and concave in profile. The boundary was orientated east/west. It was over 50 m in length by 3m in width by 0.6 m in depth. The fills C.57 to C.77 were all sand based soils with the colour brown being the predominant colour throughout. All these fills contained stone inclusions. The final six fills were all silt based fills and as with the previous fills brown was the predominant colour and all fills contained stone inclusions. InterpretationThis context represents the cut of a field boundary as seen through three excavated sec-tions - slot 1, 2 and 3. It appears to truncate the burnt mound and therefore post-dates it, as seen through post-medieval finds from several of the 23 fills. The ditch is annotated on the 1st edition OS map TN22.

Subgroup B Redeposited Natural Associated with Field Boundary

Layers C.177, C.178, C.179, C.180, C.181, C.182, C.186Description These layers combine to form a positive feature, which was possibly upcast from the ex-cavation of the field boundary. The upper layer was a firm, light grey sandy silt. The next layer was a firm, mid grey sandy silt. The next layer was a firm, light yellowish clayey silt. Layer C.180 was a firm, mid yellowish grey sandy silt. The next layer was a spongy, dark brown peat. The layer C.182 was a compact, dark brownish grey clayey sand. The basal layer was a firm, light yellowish white clayey silt.InterpretationThese layers may have originated from excavation of linear cut C54.

Subgroup C Quarry C.49 (fills C.8, C.9, C.19, C.23, C.32, C.33, C.43, C.44, C.173)

Description The cut was orientated east west, measured 5m by 3m, and had a maximum depth of 0.6m. The quarry was irregular in plan with rounded corners. The base was irregular in plan and flat in profile. This context truncated the ditch cut C54.The layers were all silt based brown in colour although there was variations in the modifier and hues. All the fills contain stone inclusions.InterpretationCut of a possible modern feature terminating at N-S baulk. May be associated with ditch. Possible quarry pit.

Subgroup D Furrows

Furrow C.89 (fill C.90), Furrow C.91 (fill C.92)Description

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The furrow (C.89) was linear in plan; the base was linear in plan and concave in profile. The fill was a soft, mid greyish brown clayey silt and was orientated east west. The second furrow was also linear in plan; the base was linear in plan and concave in profile while the fill was a soft, dark greyish brown clayey silt. The furrow was orientated east west.InterpretationTwo regular features are furrows.

The field boundary is marked on the 1st edition OS map TN22.

Group 7 Natural features

Subgroup A

C.7 (C.6), C.10 (C.11), C.13 (C.12), C.21 (C.28), C.22 (C.26, C.27), C.24 (C.25), C.30 (C.31), C.34, C.35 (C.36), C.37 (C.39), C.38 (C.40), C.46 (C.45, C.50), C.48 (C.47), C.56 (C.68), C.70 (C.71), C.101 (C.104), C.102, (C.105, C.106), C.103 (C.111, C.112), C.107 (C.108), C.109 (C.110), C.124 (C.125, C.126), C.169 (C.170, C.171), C.172 (C.174, C.175, C.176).InterpretationA group of 22 features identified during post-excavation as stone sockets, roots, natural depressions or animal burrows.

The fills of all these natural features were derived from the layers of burnt mound mate-rial, it had filled all the depressions and hollow in the natural subsoil.


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Appendix 4 Plant Remains Report

By Penny Johnston

IntroductionThis report details the analysis of plant remains from Park 2, Co. Tipperary (E3772). The site comprised a burnt mound/fulacht fiadh, trough and associated pits, post-holes, stake-holes and a possible well. The plant remains were identified as barley and hazelnut shell fragments, as well as some indeterminate cereals and some weed seeds.

MethodologyThe samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-as-sisted floatation (following guidelines in Pearsall 2000). The floating material (or ‘flot’) from each sample was collected in a stack of geological sieves (the smallest mesh size was 250mm). The samples were scanned under low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. Nomenclature and taxonomic order follows Stace (1997).

ResultsA total of 40 samples from Park 2 were assessed and the results are listed in the assessment report, and in Table 1, listed below. The initial assessment report of the samples from Park 2 indicated that 16 of the samples contained plant remains, however, further examination of the selected samples indicated that most of the material in these samples were probably actually fungal sclerotia, rather than seeds. Fungal sclerotia are spores from a soil fungus and can be relatively recent in date. In total, only 6 of the 40 samples actually contained plant remains. The results are presented in Table 2 at the end of this report.

In general the plant remains from Park 2 were charred, apart from the seeds found in C.132 (S.103), which were un-charred. The un-charred plant remains were identified as hazelnut shell fragments, blackberry drubes and sedge seeds. As the sample does not appear to have been from a water-logged context it is likely that these un-charred remains from Park 2 were relatively modern in origin.

It is unusual to find charred plant remains from burnt mound/fulacht fiadh sites (see Johnston 2007, 70). However, the charred plant remains from Park 2 were recovered only in small quantities. The identified cereals included grains of both hulled and naked barley, as well as some hazelnut shell fragments. As these were recovered in very small quantities it is likely that these plant remains were accidental inclusions in the deposits from this site. They were recovered in such small quantities that it is unlikely that they represent a significant reflection of the activity at the site.

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ReferencesJohnston, P. 2007 ‘Analysis of carbonised plant remains’ in Grogan, E., O’Donnell,

L. and Johnston, P. The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Bray, Wordwell, 70 – 79.

Pearsall, D. 2000 Paleoethnobotany: a Handbook of Procedures. New York, Academic Press.

Stace, C. A. 1997 New Flora of the British Isles. (2nd edition) Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Sample Context Charcoal Seeds Percentage1 3 High Absent 50

2 4 High Low 100

3 6 High Low 100

26 23 Low Low 100

29 18 High Absent 100

38 57 Low Absent 100

66 87 Medium Absent 100


71 95 Low Absent 100










102 131 High Low 100

103 132 Medium Low 100











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Sample Context Charcoal Seeds Percentage120 162 Medium Absent 100







147 190 Medium Low 100




Table1:ScannedsamplesfromPark2,Co�Tipperary(E3772)

Sample 2 3 26 102 103 147Context 4 6 23 131 132 190Charred plant remains Hazelnut shell fragments (Corylus avellana) 1 Naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum) 1Hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare) 1 Probable hulled barley (cf Hordeum vulgare) 1 Barley rachis internode (Hordeum spp.) 1Barley/Wheat (Hordeum/Triticum) 1 Indeterminate grass seeds (Poaceae) 1Indeterminate cereal grains 1 Un-charred plant remains Hazelnut kernel (Corylus avellana) 1 Hazelnut shell fragments (Corylus avellana) 2 Blackberry/Raspberry (Rubus spp.) 5 Indeterminate sedge seeds (Cyperaceae) 1

Table2:IdentifiedplantremainsfromPark2,Co�Tipperary(E3772)

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Appendix 5 Animal Bone Report

The quantity of bones recovered from Park 2 is very small and apart from documenting the presence of cattle at the site no other dietary information can be extrapolated from the data. Four adult cattle teeth were recovered from one of the layers (C87) of burnt mound material. The fill (C57) of a modern field boundary also contained cattle teeth, two molars from an adult individual.