Archaeological Report - Derrybane 1, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)

Issue 11 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report

E3585 - Derrybane 1, Co. Tipperary

Multi peroid site with a Later Medieval kiln

Eachtra Journal

July 2011


Co. Tipperary

Laois County Council and National Roads Authority

Ewelina Chrobak and Enda O'Mahony

Derrybane 1

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

E No.:

:

Project:

Client:

Date:

E3585

N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1)

Laurence McGowanExcavation Director

Written by:

Multi peroid site with a Later Medieval kiln

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]


Derrybane 1Co. Tipperary

Excavation Director

Laurence McGowan

Written By

Ewelina Chrobak and Enda O'Mahony

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�� 1

3 Receivingenvironment�� 3

4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground�� 4Mesolithic�(c��8000�to�4000�BC)�� 4

Neolithic�(c��4000�to�2000�BC)�� 4

Bronze�Age�(c��2000�to�600BC)�� 4

Iron�Age�(c��500�BC�to�AD�500)�� 6

Early�medieval�period�(c��AD�400�to�1100)�� 6

High�and�later�medieval�periods�(c��AD�1100�to�1650)�� 7

Post-medieval�period�(c��1650�to�the�present)�� 7

5 SitelocationandTopography�� 9

6 Excavationmethodology�� 11

7 Excavationresults�� 12

8 Discussion��23

9 References��26

Appendix1 StratigraphicIndex��28

Appendix2 SiteMatrix��29

Appendix3 GroupsandSubgroups�� 32

Appendix4 Lithicartefactsreport��44

Appendix5 Plantremainsreport�� 47

Appendix6 Animalbonereport��56

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List of FiguresFigure1: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance Survey

DiscoverySeriesmap�� 2

Figure2: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance SurveyDiscoverySeriesmapwithalltheexcavationsitesmarked�� 5

Figure3: Portionof the IsteditionOrdnanceSurveyMapTN21showing the locationofDerrybane1�� 8

Figure4: LocationandextentofDerrybane1E3585ontheN7CastletowntoNenagh��10

Figure5: PostexcavationplanofArea1�� 12

Figure6: PostexcavationplanofArea2�� 14

Figure7: PostexcavationplanofArea3��18

Figure8: SectionofpitsC�142andC�153andkilnC�145��20

List of PlatesPlate1: AerialphotographmontageofDerrybane1�� 9

Plate2: Mid-excavationofpitC�153�� 13

Plate3: Post-excavationphotographofC�14,C�26andC�50lookingsoutheast�� 15

Plate4: PostexcavationofpitC�12lookingsouth�� 15

Plate5: Mid-excavationofhearthC�105��16

Plate6: MidexcavationofpitC�142lookingeast�� 17

Plate7: MidexcavationofkilnC�145lookingsouth��18

Plate8: PostexcavationofkilnC�145lookingnorth�� 19

Plate9: ConvexendscraperE3585:1:1��21

List of TablesTable1 DimensionsofpitsinArea1�� 12

Table2 DimensionsofhearthsinArea2��16

Table3 DimensionsofpitsinArea3�� 17

Table4 Radiocarbondates��22

Table5 RadiocarbondatesfromothermedievalsiteswithkilnsontheN7(Contract1)��25

Derrybane 1-e3585

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http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3585-derrybane1-co-tipperary/

SummaryThree separate cuttings were excavated at Derrybane 1. Area 1 measured 20 m by 20 m, Area 2 measured 92 m by 30 m and Area 3 measured 13 m by 15 m. Three large pits were excavated in Area 1. Area 2 was characterised by 22 small and shallow pits, located for the most part in the centre of the site, 12 postholes and three hearths. The entire area was truncated by modern drains and furrows. An Early Bronze Age date, an early medieval and a medieval date were returned from pits and a hearth in Area 2. A corn-drying kiln and associated pit were recorded in Area 3. The figure-of-eight type kiln comprised two oval chambers separated by a flue. There was evidence for three or four phases of use in the kiln. A large oval pit was located adjacent to the kiln. The pit contained large amounts of burnt material, possibly waste from the kiln. The kiln was dated to the medieval period.

Road project name N7 Castletown to Nenagh Site name Derrybane 1E no. E3585Site director Laurence McGowanTownland DerrybaneParish BallymackeyCounty TipperaryBarony Upper OrmondOS Map Sheet No. TN21National Grid Reference 192428, 192514Elevation 85m O.D.

iSSUe 11: eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaeological excavation report

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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, Farina Sternke and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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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 archaeological 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 Muse-um of Ireland. The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previ-ously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeological 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 construc-tion 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 is-sued 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 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,

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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. Tipperary. 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 ex-tends back in County Tipperary and through the demesne of Greenhills before cross-ing 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% basis peat. They are derived from glacial till of predominantly Carboniferous limestone composition. These soils occur in Tipperary and Offaly and have a wide use range being suitable for both tillage and pasture (Gardiner and Rad-ford 1980, 97-99). Land use along the route was a mix of grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing and tillage.


4

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, Culleenwaine 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, Culleenwaine E3741, Derrybane 1 E3585, Drumroe E3773, Greenhills 1 E3638 and Moatquarter E3910. Neolithic pottery was recorded at Culleenwaine E3741 and Drumbaun E3912.

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-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.

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Two new fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds were recorded at Clashnevin 1 E3586, Culleenwaine 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)Up to 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).

Three Iron Age dates were returned from pits in Castleroan E3909 and Drumroe E3773 on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1).

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 cho-sen 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).

Early medieval activity was recorded at five sites on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1). A series of corn-drying kilns were recorded at Busherstown E3661. A denuded ringfort (OF046-013) was excavated at Clynoe 2 E3774. An area of iron-working and associated pits was recorded at Drumbaun E3912. Iron working activ-ity, corn-drying kilns and settlement activity was recorded at Park 1 E3659. A group of pits and associated ditch were recorded at Drumroe E3773.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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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 medieval enclosure and associated field systems were recorded at Killeisk E3587. A newly recorded moated site was excavated at Busherstown E3661. A series of ditches and settlement activity was recorded at Park 1 E3659.

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 at Greenhills.

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5 Site location and TopographyThe site at Derrybane 1 was located in the western portion of the townland (Figure 4, Plate 1). Derrybane townland ranges in height from 85m O.D. to 94m O.D. and contains 113 acres of land. The townland name most likely refers to the whitish oak wood derived from Doire meaning “oak wood” and Bane (Ban) meaning “whitish”. The townland is enclosed by a national primary route (N7) to the south and by local tertiary roads to the north and east. The townland boundary to the west comprises of a field boundary and a disused pathway. In the south western corner of the townland there is no visible townland boundary as it has been removed for 200 metres due to current agricultural practices. The townland and the surrounding landscape is an undulating landscape with both tillage and pastoral agricultural being the predominant land use. Due to current agricultural practices there are no internal field boundaries within Derrybane townland in comparison to the First Edition OS map sheet TN21 which shows fourteen fields (see Figure 3). There is a very gentle gradient in the area of the excavation which sloped from east to west.

The underlying geology is Dinantian Lower Impure Limestone while the subsoil is BminDW which is a limestone derived till. These grey brown podzolics and brown earths are derived mainly from basis parent materials.

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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. The three areas were stripped systemically. Area 1 measured approximately 400sq m. Area 2 was located 50 m east of Area 1. It encompassed an area of c. 2700sq m. Area 3 was located 40 m east of Area 2 and it enclosed an area of c.185sq m. A grid was set up in the excavation areas and all archaeological features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and meaningful 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 Ar-chaeological works as attached to the licence method statements for excavation licences.

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


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7 Excavation resultsThree areas of excavation were excavated at Derrybane 1.

Area 1Area 1 was the most westerly of the three areas. It measured c. 20 m by 20 m. Excavation of Area 1 (Figure 5) revealed three large pits (C.153, C.159 and C.161). Pit C.153 was lo-cated 9 m north of the other two pits which were adjacent to one another.

Context DimensionsC.153 1.83 x 1.04 x 0.65C.159 3.4 x 2.4 x 0.3C.161 3.4 x 1.6 x 0.4

Table1DimensionsofpitsinArea1

The pit C.153 was smaller in size than the other two (see Figure 8). It was oval in plan and showed signs of insitu burning along the base however the charcoal residue was minimal (Plate 2). With the exception of a weed seed and some hazelnut shells no charred cereals or metallurgical residues were recovered from the fills of the pit C.153. The pit may have functioned as a hearth.

Figure5: PostexcavationplanofArea1

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The other two pits were adjacent to each other and may have served as refuse pits. Small fragments of possible animal bone were recorded in the pits.

Area 2The excavations in Area 2 (Figure 6) revealed a total of 22 pits, three hearths and 12 postholes. The area of excavation measured c. 30 m by 90 m. The area was truncated by a number of furrow which were aligned NW–SE and by a drainage ditch which cut east–west across the site.

Five of the pits (C.20, C.29, C.35, C.42, C.43 and C.46) were located in a cluster at the western end of Area 2. Pit C.35 cut pit C.46. The majority of the pits (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.26, C.49, C.50, C.51, C.52, C.62, C.64, C.71, C.85, C.101 and C.137) were lo-cated in the centre of Area 2 in a broad band in an area that measured c. 18 m wide by 38 m long and was aligned SW–NE (Plates 3 and 4). A medieval date of cal AD 1035–1162 (UB–15076) was returned from the pit C.62.

Three hearths were recorded in Area 3. Two (C.16 and C.87) were located on the southern edge of Area 3. Hearth 87 was truncated by one of the furrows. Ten fills were recorded within the hearth C.87, including basal layers of charcoal and burnt clay, indi-cating several periods of burning. The third hearth C.105 was located at the eastern end of Area 2 c. 32 m east of the main concentration of pits and within 50 m of the kiln in Area 3. The base of the hearth was heat-scorched and was overlain by layers of charcoal (Plate 5). Charcoal from the fill was dated to the early medieval period cal AD 778–885

Plate2: Mid-excavationofpitC�153

103

97

9973

127

32

49

115

20

12

52

26

42

101

46

105

13

135

16

27

14

83

50

64

62

111

51

87

7158

36

85

29

43

33

22

8113

7

37

7577

79

1927

50

1927

50

1928

00

1928

00

178988

178988

179017

179017

±

025

m

)O92

m O

.D.

Area

2

Dra

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tch


14

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re6

:Po

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ano

fAre

a2

Derrybane 1-e3585

15


Plate3: Post-excavationphotographofC�14,C�26andC�50lookingsoutheast�

Plate4: PostexcavationofpitC�12lookingsouth�


16

(UB–15075). No charred cereals or metallurgical residues were recovered from any of the hearths.


Table2DimensionsofhearthsinArea2

The postholes were located in association with the pits but did not form any apparent structure. Two of the posts (C.36 and C.37) were located adjacent to one another, 4 m to the south-east of the small cluster of pits, at the western end of Area 2. Three of postholes ((C.22, C.27 and C.28) were located in close proximity to one another in the central band of pits. An Early Bronze Age date of cal BC 1622–1512 (UB–15077) was returned from the posthole C.22. A small quantity of indeterminate animal bone was recovered from the posthole C.27. The remaining five posts (C.58, C.75, C.77, C.79, C.81 and C.83) were located close to one another to the east of pit C.49 at the northern end of the central band of pits. Posthole C.71 was located 4.5 m SE and posthole C.51 was located 2.5 m SW of the other five.

A flint scaper and a hammerstone were recovered from the topsoil in Area 2. They were dated to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period.

Plate5: Mid-excavationofhearthC�105�

Derrybane 1-e3585

17


Area 3 Area 3 was located 40 m east of Area 2. The area of excavation measured c. 15 m by 12 m. Two pits (C.142 and C.149) and a corn drying kiln (C.145) were recorded in Area 3 (Figure 7). The pits were located on the eastern side of the kiln.

The pit C.142 was located 1.5 m to the east of the kiln. It contained ten fills which likely to have been derived from rake-out from the kiln (Plate 6). The pit was re-cut by pit C.143. Four fills were recorded in the re-cut pit C.143. They were similar to those recorded in pit C.142.


Table3DimensionsofpitsinArea3

The kiln was a figure-of-eight type kiln it comprised two oval chambers separated by an elongated flue. The kiln measured a maximum of 6.2m by 2.2m and was orientated north–south with the opening to the north. The sides of the kiln were stone lined while the interior showed signs of collapse and deliberate backfilling (Plate 7). The stone lin-ing was best preserved within the area of the drying chamber. The revetment stones were large rounded limestone and sandstone field stones set three courses high by two stones in depth. The stone revetment in the area of the entrance was the least well preserved. Evi-

Plate6: MidexcavationofpitC�142lookingeast�


18

Plate7: Mid excavation of kiln C�145lookingsouth�

Figure7: PostexcavationplanofArea3

145

142

143

149

200

213212

217

214215216

192855

192855

192863

192863

1790

23

1790

23

Kiln

±

0 5 m

Area 3

Derrybane 1-e3585

19


dence of a hearth was recorded towards the northern end of the flue. The flue measured c. 2.5 m in length (Plate 8). The drying chamber measured c. 0.8 m wide internally.

In total 31 fills were recorded within the kiln (C.168, C.169, C.170, C.171, C.172, C.184, C.189, C.190, C.191, C.192, C.193, C.194, C.195, C.196, C.197, C.198, C.199, C.201 C.,202, C.203, C.204, C.205, C.206, C.207, C.208, C.209, C.210, C.211, C.218) (Figure 8). The stratagraphic evidence suggested three or four phases of use for the kiln. The upper fills in the kiln were brown sandy silts and clays and were derived from the backfill of the kiln. Some of the basal layers included burnt clay, charcoal and charred plant remains and were derived from rake-out of the kiln.

The western edge of the northern bowl was lined with six stakeholes (C.212, C.213, C.214, C.215, C.216 and C.217) and a centrally placed posthole (C.200). They may have formed part of a shelter or roof associated with the entrance. No stakeholes were record-ed on the eastern side of the kiln.

Plant remains were recovered in large amounts from the kiln and the pit at Area 3 (see Appendix 5). Some of the layers that overlay the area of the hearth were rich in plant remains and probably represent rake-out from the drying chamber. The cereals were primarily oats followed by a smaller quantity of wheat, mostly identified as bread wheat. Much smaller quantities of barley and rye were also found. The proportions from the pit C.142 were the same as those from the kiln. A medieval date of cal AD 1181–1269 (UB–15040) was returned from oat grains from one of the fills that overlay the hearth in the kiln.

Plate8: PostexcavationofkilnC�145lookingnorth�

C.1

67

C.1

66

C.1

65

C.1

64

C.1

77

C.1

76

C.1

75

C.1

74

C.1

75

C.1

83

C.1

81C

.180

C.1

78

C.1

79

C.1

82

C.1

81

C.1

80

C.1

77

C.1

74

C.1

80

C.1

85

C.1

73

C.1

56

C.1

86

C.1

55

C.1

42

C.1

87C

.188

C.1

54

C.2

05C

.193

C.2

04

C.1

95

C.1

91

C.1

89

C.1

84

C.1

92

C.1

70

C.1

71

C.1

68

C.1

45

C.1

72C

.203

C.2

02

C.2

01C

.199

Der

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ne 1

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it C

.142

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.145

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.153

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43

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Derrybane 1-e3585

21


Lithic artefactsThe lithics, a retouched artefact (Plate 9) and a possible macro tool, were examined by Fa-rina Sternke (Appendix 4). The retouched artefact was a small convex end scraper which was produced on a bipolar split pebble flake. The scraper dates to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Beaker period).

The macro tool is a possible quartz hammer stone. It bears possible traces of wear on two opposed slightly flattened ends. It may also date to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.

Plant remainsThe plant remains were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 5). A total of 36 samples were scanned and plant remains were present in 25 samples. The plant remains from both Area 1 and Area 2 are so scattered that it is likely that they are incidental finds. On the other hand, plant remains were recovered in large amounts from the kiln and the pit at Area 3. The cereals were primarily oats followed by a smaller quantity of wheat, mostly identified as bread wheat. Much smaller quantities of barley and rye were also found. This assemblage of cereal remains is typical of medieval deposits, possibly even dating to the later medieval period.

Plate9: Convex end scraperE3585:1:1


22

Animal boneThe animal bone was examined by Margaret McCarthy (Appendix 6). Small quantities were recovered from two features, from a post-hole C.27 in Area 2 and the backfill of the kiln in Area 3.

Charcoal The charcoal was examined by Mary Dillon in advance of radiocarbon dating.

Radiocarbon datesRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast (Appendix 6). Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M.Stuiver & P.J. Reimer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.

Lab no. Con-text

Material Un-calibrated date

δ 13 C Calibrated BC 2–sigma dates

Period

15040 171 Oat from kiln C145 in Area 3

810+/-26 -30.0cal AD 1181-1269

medieval

15075 140 Oak charcoal from hearth C105 in Area 2

1192 +/- 16 -28.0 cal AD 778-885 early medieval

15076 63 Pomoideae charcoal from pit C62 in Area 2

922+/-21 -29.8 cal AD 1035-1162 medieval

15077 5 Oak charcoal from stakehole C22 in Area 2

3292 +/- 21 -28.3 cal BC 1622-1512 Early Bronze Age

Table4Radiocarbondates

Derrybane 1-e3585

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8 DiscussionA group of pits, postholes, hearths and a corn-drying kiln were recorded in three separate cuttings at Derrybane 1. The evidence from two stone artefacts, radiocarbon dates and the plant remains assemblage suggested that at least three different phases of activity were recorded at Derrybane. Radiocarbon dates were returned from the Bronze Age and early and later medieval periods.

Prehistoric periodAn Early Bronze Age radiocarbon date was returned from one of the pits in Area 2. A flint scraper and a hammerstone, dated to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Period were recovered from the topsoil. It is difficult to know how many of the pits or postholes in Area 1 and 2 belong to the Early Bronze Age phase of activity.

Bronze Age domestic and funerary activity in the form of a series of cremation pits, three structures and associated post-holes, hearths, pits and stake-holes, dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age were recorded in two cuttings at Derrybane 2 E3591 located c. 350 m east of Derrybane 1. Prehistoric activity, dated to the Middle and Late Bronze Age, was recorded at Clashnevin 1 E3586 and Clashnevin 2 E3590 located c. 100 m to the west of Derrybane 1. The lowlying land stretching from Clashnevin to Derrybane was settled in the Bronze Age and it is likely that many of the small pits and postholes recorded at Derrybane are contemporary with this phase of activity.

Medieval periodA hearth at the eastern end of Area 2 was dated to the early medieval period. Two other hearths were recorded in Area 2 and one in Area 1. The hearths maybe contemporary with one another and with some of the pits recorded in Area 2. No charred plant remains or archaeometallurgical residues were recorded in association with the hearths.

A pit in Area 2 was dated to the medieval period. A corn-drying kiln and associated pit were recorded in Area 3. The kiln was dated to the medieval period, slightly later than the pit in Area 2. The kiln was a figure-of-eight type with an elongated flue. It was stone lined and orientated north-south with the entrance to the north. Monk and Kel-liher (2005, 79) have noted that some kilns display features which would have enhanced their use, for example kilns built into banks, narrowing flues where the floor rises to meet the drying chamber and fire pits in front of flues.

There was no evidence that the kiln at Derrybane was associated with a field bound-ary or that there was a change in the level of the floor of the flue. The base of a hearth was recorded at the northern edge of the flue. Some of the layers associated with the area of the hearth, C.191 and C.171 in particular, were very rich in charred plant remains while charred plant remains were scarce or absent in many of the layers of backfill in the flue.

Corn-drying kilns were used to dry cereal grains and other crops in order to facili-tate crop processing, to harden grains prior to grinding and to convert the grain into


24

malt; the process of making malt is described in some early texts, and differs only mini-mally from the manner of malt preparation today (Binchy 1980). Lowering the moisture content of the grains also made them less susceptible to mould, fungal and insect attack and therefore increased the likelihood that they would come through storage intact. Drying kilns first appear in Britain during the Roman period, and it is possible that their use may have been due to necessity; to fumigate the grain crops in order to stop the spread of the stored product pest, the grain weevil (Sitophilus granarius): the earliest findings of these beetles from archaeological contexts in Northwestern Europe are all from within the Roman Empire (Reilly 2003). It is not known when the grain weevil was introduced into Ireland, the earliest example found to date is from late Viking/early Anglo-Norman levels at Waterford (Reilly 2003) and the use of kilns in this country predates this (e.g. a radiocarbon date of Cal AD 410-485 was obtained from Kiltenan North, Co. Limerick: 02E0666). Their use continued in some parts of Ireland into the relatively recent past, Scott (1951) described several kilns that were still in use up to the beginning of the twentieth century. These examples demonstrate that the timeframe during which these monuments were in use was vast, spanning revolutionary changes in the approach to and organisation of agriculture in Ireland.

O’Sullivan and Downey (2005) suggest that the geographical distribution of kilns is predominantly northern and western based on patterns in early nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps. However, this pattern may have occurred due to the usage of the kilns in these areas in the more recent past; many archaeological examples of corn drying kilns have been found in Leinster and Munster during the course of recent infra-structural development. This suggests that they are a common archaeological site type and medieval texts suggest that there may even have been one kiln for communal use in every rural neighbourhood (Kelly, 1998).

A series of early medieval and medieval dates were returned from features at Park 1 E3659, Busherstown E3661 and Killeisk E3587, sites located on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1). More than 15 corn-drying kilns, dated to the early medieval period, were recorded at Busherstown in an annex associated with a moated site. The moated site and ditched annex at Busherstown were dated to the later medieval period. No definite settlement site, contemporary with the kilns was recorded at Bush-erstown. At least one corn-drying kiln, dated to the early medieval period was recorded at Park. The archaeological activity at Park was recorded over a distance of c. 400 m and while no definite domestic structure was associated with the kiln it is likely that at least one was located in the vicinity. A kiln and associated pit, located 1.5 m to the west of the kiln, were excavated at Killeisk. The kiln was located to the west of an enclosure and may have been used by the occupiers of the enclosure. The radiocarbon date returned from the pit was contemporary with date from the kiln at Derrybane but the date from the kiln itself was later.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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Site Name Features Lab. No. 2-sigma cal AD radiocarbon dateKilleisk E3587 Pit C.364 UB––15089 1167–1262Killeisk E3587 Kiln C.358 UB––15090 1420–1617Busherstown E3661 Kiln C.74 UB––15050 658–766Busherstown E3661 Kiln C.490 UB––15051 657–769Busherstown E3661 Kiln C.355 UB––15053 713–888Park E3659 Kiln C.291 UB––15045 685–862

Table5RadiocarbondatesfromothermedievalsiteswithkilnsontheN7(Contract1)�

The frequency of the plant remains and the dominance of the different species re-covered from the kilns on the N7 (Contract 1) were varied. Monk and Kelleher (2005, 85) commented on this pattern which was apparent in the eight detailed plant remains studies they examined from kilns excavated on sites in Counties Kilkenny, Westmeath, Louth, Dublin, Tipperary, Limerick and Cork. The cereals recorded in the kiln at Der-rybane were primarily oats followed by a smaller quantity of wheat, mostly identified as bread wheat. Much smaller quantities of barley and rye were also found. By contrast the plant remains from the kiln at Killeisk were almost exclusively wheat, however a large portion of grain was not identifiable to type at Killeisk (Johnston 2010). The general re-sults from the kilns at Busherstown indicate that barley was the most common cereal type found, representing 59% of the identifiable cereal assemblage (Johnston 2010), followed by oats. The general pattern of barley being dominant over oats (and all other cereal types) holds for samples from most of the individual kilns, but there were a few exceptions. The remaining cereals from these samples included both wheat and rye, although these were only recovered in small portions.


26

9 ReferencesBinchy, D.A. 1980 ‘Brewing in eighth-century Ireland’ in B.G. Scott (ed.) Studies in

Early Ireland: Essays in honour of M.V. Duignan.

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

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

Johnston, P. (2010) Plant remains report in Final Excavation report Busherstown E3661 Co. Offaly. Eachtra Archaeological Projects Unpublished report.

Johnston, P. (2010) Plant remains report in Final Excavation report Killeisk E3587 Co. Tipperary. Eachtra Archaeological Projects Unpublished report.

Kelly, F. 1998 Early Irish Farming Dublin: Institute for Advanced Studies.

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

Monk, M. and Kelleher, E. (2005) An assessment of the archaeological evidence for Irish corn-drying kilns in the light of the results of archaeological experiments and archaeobotanical studies in JIA, Volume XIV 2005, 79-113.

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

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’Sullivan, M. and Downey, L. 2005 ‘Corn-Drying Kilns’ Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 19, No.3, 32-35.

Reilly, E. 2003 The contribution of insect remains to an understanding of the environment of Viking-age and medieval Dublin in Duffy, S. (ed.) Medieval Dublin IV Dublin Four Courts Press.

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,

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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.

Scott, L. 1951 ‘Corn Drying Kilns’ Antiquity 25, 196-208.

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.

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.


28

Appendix 1 Stratigraphic Index

Please see attached CD.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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App

endi

x 2

Site

Mat

rix


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Derrybane 1-e3585

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32

Appendix 3 Groups and Subgroups

Group No.

Description Subgroup No. Description Context No.

1 Natural Deposits TopsoilSubsoil

C.1C.2

2 Modern features 6 field drains, agri-cultural furrows

C.32, C.73, C.97, C.99, C.103 and C.127

3 Area 2 3a Pits 25 pits C.12, C.13, C.14, C.16, C.20, C.23, C.26, C.29, C.35, C.42, C.43, C.49, C.50, C.51 , C.52, C.60, C.62, C.64, C.71, C.85, C.87, C.101 and C.137

3b Postholes and stakehole

12 postholes, 1 stakehole

C.22, C.27, C.28, C.36, C.58, C.67, C.75, C.77, C.79, C.81, C.83, C.122 and C.37

3b Hearth 1 hearth C.1054 Kiln and associ-

ated features 1 kiln, 2 pits, 2 post-holes, 5 stakeholes, 1poss. post-pad

C.145, C.142, C.149, C.200, C.212, C.213, C.214, C.215, C.216, C.217 and C.148

5 Area 1 3 pits C.153, C.159 and C.161

Twenty one contexts (C.69, C.109,C.110, C.111, C.112, C.113, C.114, C.115, C.116, C.117, C.118, C.119, C.124, C.125, C.126, C.133, C.134, C.136, C.135, C.146 and C.157) were non archaeological.

Group 1 Natural DepositsThis group describes the natural geological deposits identified across the area of excavation.

Topsoil C.1 The topsoil was covering the archaeological features on the site. It was mid dark brown loose clayey sandy silt.

Subsoil C.2The subsoil changes throughout the full range of the site. It was relatively loose gravel with some patches of silty sand at the eastern end of the site. The central area of the site was much sandier-almost 100% sand in the northern part. At the western extend the sub-soil was more gravelly with several bands of pure gravel running down the slope. This is the natural subsoil which occurs under the features and was found across the site.

Group 2 Modern featuresSix modern drains (C.32, C.73, C.97, C.99, C.103 and C.127) and agricultural furrows run across Area 2. The drains cut three pits. The agricultural furrows truncated four pits and six postholes.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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Con-text

Dimen-sions (m) within area of excavation

Depth (m)

Shape in plan

Orientation Sides Base Filled with

Fill description

32 11x0.33 0.1 Linear NNW-SSE Steep & smooth

Flat 31 Loose mid to dark orange brown silty sand with oc-casional pebbles, small stones and charcoal flecks

73 30x0.68 0.15 Linear NNW-SSE Gentle & smooth

Con-cave

74 Loose mid brown silty sand with frequent pebbles

97 30x0.84 0.1 Linear NNW-SSE Gentle & smooth

Flat 98 Very soft mid greyish brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles and small stones

99 30x0.98 0.2 Linear NNW-SSE Moder-ate & concave

Con-cave

100 Mid brown topsoil-like clayey silt

96 Compact dark greyish brown clayey sand with occasional small charcoal pieces

103 90x1.02 0.5 Linear E-W Verti-cal & smooth

Flat 104 Loose mid grey brown clay sand

127 28x0.69 0.15 Linear N-S Steep & smooth

Flat 128 Machine cut modern drain

TableofmoderndraininArea2

Group 3 Area 2Twenty three pits (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.16, C.20, C.23, C.26, C.29, C.35, C.42, C.43, C.49, C.50, C.51 , C.52, C.60, C.62, C.64, C.71, C.85, C.87, C.101 and C.137), twelve postholes (C.22, C.27, C.28, C.36, C.58, C.67, C.75, C.77, C.79, C.81, C.83, C.122), one stakehole (C.37) and one hearth (C.105) were discovered in Area 2.

Subgroup 3a Pits Twenty three pits (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.16, C.20, C.23, C.26, C.29, C.35, C.42, C.43, C.49, C.50, C.51, C.52, C.60, C.62, C.64, C.71, C.85, C.87, C.101 and C.137) were exca-vated in Area 2.


34

Con-text

Dimension/ length x width (m)

Depth (m)

Shape in plan

Sides Base Filled with

Fill description

12 1.4x0.7 0.25 Oval Gentle & smooth at NW, moderate & stepped at SE, moderate & concave at NE and SW

Flat 11 Firm mid greyish brown silty clay and sand with occasional pebbles and small charcoal pieces

13 1.05x0.6 0.25 Irregular Steep & convex at W, gentle & concave at S, gentle & smooth at N and E

Flat 8 Loose mid yellowish brown clayey sandy silt with moderate pebbles and occasional small stones and charcoal.

15 Loosely compacted dark greyish brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles, small stones and charcoal pieces and frequent inclu-sions of charcoal flecks

14 0.64x0.42 0.1 Irregular Gentle & concave

Con-cave

4 Firm light greyish white silty clay

20 1.86x1.2 0.12 Oval N varied from gentle & smooth to steep & stepped, S varied from moderate & concave to steep & stepped, gentle & smooth at E, steep & stepped at W

Flat 18 Compact mid brown sand with occasional fine stones and small charcoal pieces

19 Compact dark black sand with frequent charcoal flecks

23 0.57x0.28 0.11 Irregular Gentle & smooth at N, moderate & smooth at S, steep & concave at E, gentle & smooth at W

Flat 9 Loose mid yellowish brown silty sand with occasional pebbles and charcoal flecks

26 0.18x0.56 0.28 Sub-rec-tangular

Steep & concave at W, steep & sooth elsewhere

Flat 10 Soft mid yellowish brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles, small stones and charcoal flecks

25 Loose mid brown silty sand with occasional peb-bles and very occasional charcoal flecks

29 0.66x0.42 0.16 Oval Moderate & concave

Con-cave

24 Loose mid to dark brown silty sand with moderate pebbles and occasional small stones and charcoal flecks

Derrybane 1-e3585

35


Con-text


Depth (m)

Shape in plan


Fill description

35 0.4x0.3 0.1 Oval Gentle & concave at S, stepped at E and smooth elsewhere

Flat 33 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with occasional pebbles, small sub-angular stones and charcoal flecks.

39 Loose mid brownish silty sand with occasional peb-bles and small stones and moderate charcoal flecks

42 1.87x0.05 0.32 Oval Gentle & con-vex at W, steep & concave at E, moderate & concave elsewhere

Con-cave

34 Loose dark greyish brown silty sand with occasional pebbles and moderate charcoal flecks

40 Loose mid brownish yellow silty sand with occasional medium stones

41 Loose mid yellowish, greyish brown silty sand with moderate small stones

43 1.11x0.8 0.1 Sub-circular

Steep & stepped at E, gentle &smooth elsewhere

Flat 30 Compact mid brown silty sand with frequent pebbles

49 2.2x1.98 0.15 Irregular Steep & smooth at N, gentle &concave at S, moderate & concave at E, gentle &smooth at W

Con-cave

56 Weakly cemented mid yellow-ish brown silty sand with mod-erate pebbles and occasional charcoal flecks

57 Loose dark greyish black silty sand with occasional pebbles and moderate charcoal flecks

66 Soft dark greyish black silty sand with frequent pebbles and occasional ash flecks

50 0.56x0.52 0.15 Irregular Gentle & smooth at N and S, gentle & convex at E, gentle & stepped at W

Flat 54 Very soft dark brownish black sandy silt with oc-casional pebbles and me-dium stones and frequent small charcoal pieces

51 0.3x0.3 1.6 Circular Gentle & concave

Con-cave

53 Mid greyish brown sand

52 1.12x0.8 0.1 Oval Gentle & concave

Flat 55 Compact mid greyish brown sand with moder-ate pebbles

60 0.69x0.5 0.17 Irregular Steep & smooth at N, gentle &smooth at S, moderate & smooth at S and W

Con-cave

61 Very soft mid to dark greyish brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles, small stones and charcoal flecks

62 0.68x0.42 0.52 Oval Steep & irregu-lar at W, verti-cal & irregular at E, gentle & irregular at N and S

Con-cave

63 Loose mid brownish grey silty sand with moderate small stones and occa-sional flecks and small pieces of charcoal


36

Con-text


Depth (m)

Shape in plan


Fill description

64 0.7x0.29 0.17 Irregular Steep & ir-regular at SW and SE, steep and concave at NW, vertical at NE

Con-cave

65 Soft mid greyish brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles

71 0.63x0.45 0.08 Irregular Gentle & smooth at N and E, gentle & concave at W, moderate and concave at S

Con-cave

72 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with occasional pebbles and small stones

85 0.27x0.23 0.16 Circular Steep & concave at W, moderate & concave at N, steep and stepped at E and S

Con-cave

86 Compact mid yellowish brown clayey sand with moderate small stones and occasional charcoal flecks

101 3.0x1.5 0.25 Oval Gentle & convex

Flat 102 Light grey brown clayey silt with occasional pebbles

120 Loose dark black silty sand with frequent flecks and moderate small pieces of charcoal

137 0.32x0.28 0.37 Oval Steep & smooth

Con-cave

138 Loose dark red brown sand

TableofpitsinArea2

Pit C.87 filled with C.38, C.88, C.89, C.90, C.91, C.92, C.93, C.94, C.95 and C.132The pit was circular in plan. It measured 0.6m in length by 0.55m in width and 0.28m

in depth. The sides were steep and smooth. The base was circular in plan and concave in profile. The pit was truncated by drain C.99.

Con-text

Length in section (m)

Depth (m)

Fill description Fill interpretation

38 1.17 0.13 Firm mid yellowish brown clayey sand with frequent pebbles and occasional small charcoal pieces

Upper layer over pit C.87

88 0.05 0.07 Firm mid brownish, greyish red silty clay with occasional pebbles and moderate charcoal flecks

Deposit of oxidized clay around edge of pit C.87

89 0.25 0.02 Soft mid brownish, orange yellow clay with occasional pebbles and frequent charcoal flecks

Fill of pit C.87- possibly deposited to quench a fire

90 0.38 0.03 Soft dark black silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks and moderate small char-coal pieces

Almost pure charcoal fill/layer within pit C.87

91 0.45 0.03 Compact mid greyish brown sand with oc-casional pebbles

Probably quench layer between burning episodes inside pit C.87

92 0.24 0.02 Soft mid brownish black silty clay with frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Charcoal rich layer within pit C.87 indicative of a burning event

Derrybane 1-e3585

37


Con-text


Depth (m)


93 0.37 0.04 Firm mid yellowish, orange brown sandy clay with moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Slightly scorched layer within pit C.87- probably deposited between burning episodes as a quench layer

94 0.22 0.02 Soft black silty clay with frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Layer of almost pure charcoal within pit C.87 indicating a burning event

95 0.37 0.04 Firm mid greyish red sandy clay with mod-erate pebbles and charcoal flecks

Layer of burnt clay at base of pit C.87

132 0.05 0.02 Mid pink grey firm silt clay with moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Clay layer in pit C.87

TableoffillswithinpitC�87

The pit C.87 was showing evidence of several phases of burning activity and might be considered as small kiln?

Pit C.16 filled with C.3 and C.17

Con-text


Depth (m)

Shape in plan


Fill description

16 0.9x0.7 0.17 Oval Moder-ate & smooth

Concave 3 Compact black clayey sand with frequent charcoal flecks

17 Firm to stiff dark red clay

PitC�16

The feature was interpreted as fire related pit heavily truncated by modern agricultural activity.

Eight pits in Area 2 were truncated by modern drains or agricultural furrows. The pit C.35 and pit C.42 by drain C.32 and pit C.87 by drain C.99. The pits C.16, C.60, C.64 and C.71 were truncated by agricultural furrows. The pits don’t form any obvious pattern.

The fill of pit C.62 was radiocarbon dated to cal AD 1035-1162.

Subgroup 3b Postholes and stakeholeTwelve postholes (C.22, C.27, C.28, C.36, C.58, C.67, C.75, C.77, C.79, C.81, C.83 and C.122) and one stakehole (C.37) were identified in Area 2.


38

Con-text


Depth (m)

Shape in plan


Fill description

22 0.38x0.3 0.22 Circular Steep & concave

Pointed 5 Firm dark black clayey sand with frequent small charcoal pieces and moderate flecks and medium pieces of charcoal

21 Weakly cemented mid greyish brown sand with oc-casional pebbles

27 0.42x0.23 0.07 Circular Steep & stepped

Tapered pointed

6 Compact dark greyish black sand with frequent charcoal flecks

28 0.2x0.18 0.08 Sub-circular

Moderate & convex

Concave 7 Compact mid greyish black sand

36 0.28x0.17 0.18 Irregular Steep & stepped

Flat 44 Compact mid brown clayey sand with occasional pebbles and charcoal flecks

58 0.26x0.20 0.2 Circular Steep & smooth

Tapered round pointed

59 Mid brown sandy silt with occasional pebbles and small stones

67 0.3x0.3 0.19 Oval Steep & stepped

Concave 68 Soft mid brownish silty sand with occasional pebbles and small stones


Tapered pointed

76 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with moderate small charcoal pieces

77 0.24x0.17 0.16 Oval Steep & smooth


78 Loose light greyish brown silty sand with moderate small charcoal pieces

79 0.3x0.12 0.08 Oval Moderate & smooth at NE, gentle & smooth elsewhere

Concave 80 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with occasional small stones and moderate small charcoal pieces

81 0.4x0.2 0.1 Oval Gentle & smooth at SW and NE, moderate & smooth at NW and SE


82 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with occasional small stones and moderate small charcoal pieces

83 0.46x0.36 0.3 Irregular Gentle & irregular at SW and NW, moderate at NE


84 Loose mid greyish brown silty sand with occasional small stones and moderate small charcoal pieces

122 0.35x0.21 0.16 Oval Gentle & smooth at N and W, Gentle & stepped at S, moderate & smooth at E

Concave 123 Mid grey brown soft sandy silt with occasional pebbles and small stones


Pointed 45 Compact brownish black clayey sand

TableofpostholesandstakeholeC�37inArea2

Derrybane 1-e3585

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Six of the postholes (C.22, C.27, C.28, C.58, C.67 and C.75) were cut by agricultural furrows. The postholes don’t make any obvious pattern.

The fill of posthole C.22 was radiocarbon dated to 1622-1512BC which indicate Bronze Age provenience of this feature.

Subgroup 3c HearthHearth C.105 filled with C.106, C.139, C.141 and C.140

The hearth was oval in plan. It measured 1.8m in length by 1m in width and 0.24m in depth. The break of slope at the top was sharp at south west and gradual elsewhere. The sides were steep and smooth at SW, gentle and smooth elsewhere. The break of slope at the base was gradual. The base was oval in plan and concave in profile. The hearth was filled with four fills described in the table. The radiocarbon date from the fill of the hearth (778-885AD) signifies Early Medieval nature of this feature.

Con-text


Depth (m)


106 0.97x0.84 0.02 Mid grey brown soft sandy clay with occasional small stones and frequent flecks, small and me-dium pieces of charcoal

Deposit of almost pure charcoal

139 0.87x0.76 0.04 Dark brown black soft sandy clay with frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Layer of sand to seal the

141 0.9x0.7 0.06 Mid yellow brown loose silty sand with occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Possible attempt to reduce the extend of hearth

140 0.9x0.66 0.03 Mid grey black soft sand clay with frequent charcoal

Deposit of almost pure charcoal

TableoffillsofhearthC�105instratigraphicalorder

Group 4 Kiln and associated featuresArea 3 contained one kiln (C.145) cut by five stakeholes (C.212, C.213, C.214, C.215 and C.216) and two postholes (C.200 and C.217) and two connected with it pits (C.142 and C.149). Next to the pit C.149 was possible post-pad C.148.

Kiln C.145 filled with C.193, C.196, C.205, C.168, C.170, C.171, C.191, C.172, C.190, C.204, C.184, C.194, C.198, C.200, C.195, C.192, C.189, C.218, C.197, C.145, C.201, C.202, C.169, C.203 and C.199.

This 6m long kiln was cut into the natural subsoil and bedrock. It consisted of a cir-cular drying pit at south 2m in width, which was joined to the mouth of the kiln to the north by a 2.5m long flue. The mouth included a fire pit and was 1.7m wide. The kiln itself was stone-lined.


40

Con-text


Depth (m)

Shape in plan


Fill description Type

212 0.14x0.11 0.05 Circular Vertical & smooth

Con-cave

206 Firm mid brown-ish grey sandy clay with occa-sional pebbles

Stake-hole


Con-cave


Stake-hole


Con-cave


Stake-hole


Con-cave


Stake-hole


Con-cave


Stake-hole


Con-cave

198 Firm light brownish grey clay with occa-sional pebbles

Post-hole


Con-cave


Post-hole

TableofpostholesandstakeholescutintokilnC�145

Pit C.142 filled with C.174, C.175, C.176, C.177, C.178, C.179, C.180, C.181, C.182 and C.183

The pit was oval plan. It measured 2.25m in length by 1.46m in width and 0.62m in depth. The break of slope at the top and base was gradual at southeast and sharp else-where. The sides were steep and irregular at southeast and steep and concave elsewhere. Base was oval in plan and flat in profile. The pit contained ten fill and was re-cut by pit C.143 which was filled with four deposits. The fills of pit C.142 are described in the table in stratigraphical order.

Con-text

Dimensions (m)

Depth (m)

Fill description Interpretation

183 1.6x1.39 0.11 Firm dark grey brown silty clay with moderate pebbles, charcoal flecks and occasional small stones

Fill

182 1.05x0.81 0.1 Firm mid brown sandy clay with moderate pebbles, large stones, flecks and small pieces of charcoal, small pieces and burnt clay flecks

Backfill of waste mate-rial from kiln C.145

181 1.5x0.8 0.17 Firm light brownish grey silty clay with pebbles, small, medium and large stones, moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal and occasional inclusions of bone

Fill

180 1.9x0.75 0.12 Soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay with moderate peb-bles, small stones, small charcoal pieces, charcoal flecks and burnt clay flecks


Derrybane 1-e3585

41


179 1.08x0.66 0.16 Firm mid brownish grey silty clay with moderate pebbles and occasional stones, flakes and small pieces of charcoal


178 0.68x0.62 0.12 Soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay with moderate peb-bles, small and medium stones and charcoal flecks


177 1.95x0.84 0.14 Firm light brownish grey silty clay with moderate peb-bles, and small stones, occasional flakes of charcoal and small pieces and flakes of burnt bone


176 0.67x0.4 0.07 Very soft light brownish clayey silt with moderate pebbles, medium charcoal pieces and white ash flecks, occasional inclusions of medium stones and frequent inclusions of flecks and small pieces of charcoal


175 1.4x0.59 0.08 Firm mid brownish grey silty clay with moderate pebbles and charcoal flecks and occasional inclusions of small stones and small charcoal pieces


174 1.6x0.55 0.12 Firm light orange brown silty clay with moderate peb-bles, small and medium stones and occasional inclusions of flecks and small pieces of charcoal

Fill

TableoffillsofpitC�142instratigraphicalorder

Pit C.143 filled with C.164, C.165, C.166 and C.167The pit was oval in plan and measured 0.78m in length by 0.76m in width and 0.26m

in depth. The break of slope at the top and at the base was sharp at north and gradual elsewhere. The sides were vertical and undercut at north, steep and irregular at south, moderate and concave at east and west. The base was oval in plan and flat in profile.

Context Dimensions (m)

Depth (m)

Fill description

167 0.78x0.76 0.05 Mid grey brown firm silty clay with moderate pebbles and occasional small stones

166 0.75x0.7 0.1 Mid grey brown firm silty clay with moderate pebbles and small stones165 0.67x0.6 0.08 Mid orange brown soft silty clay with occasional pebbles, small stones,

flecks and small pieces of charcoal and small pieces of burnt stone164 0.59x0.55 0.05 Mid orange brown firm silty clay with moderate pebbles, occasional small, medium

and large stones, moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal and occasional flecks of bone

TableoffillsofpitC�143instratigraphicalorder

The pit C.143 was re-cut into the northern extent of pit C.142. Presents exactly within footprint of pit C.142 suggests knowledge and access to the earlier pit. Fills do not contain so much charcoal/organic material as the fills in the earlier pit. However the fills contain a small amount of burnt clay suggesting scrape out form some hearth/kiln nearby (not the same as earlier cleanouts from kiln C.145).

Pit C.149 filled with C.152The pit was oval in plan. It measured 0.42m in length by 0.25m in width and 0.26m

in depth. The break of slope at the top was sharp at north and west, gradual at south and east. The sides were vertical and undercut at north, steep and irregular at south, moderate


42

and concave at east, steep and smooth at west. The fill was mid grey brown soft silty clay with moderate pebbles and occasional small stones.

Interpretation: The small possible pit in close vicinity of kiln C.145 and pit C.142. The pit was truncated by modern ploughing.

Post pad C.148 filled with C.150 and C.151The post-pad was oval in plan. It measured 0.38m in length by 0.15m in width and

0.05m in depth. The break of slope at the top was imperceptible at south and gradual else-where. The sides were gentle and concave. The break of slope at the base was imperceptible at north and gradual elsewhere. Base was oval in plan and concave in profile. The upper fill C.150 was mid grey brown firm silty clay with occasional pebbles. The basal fill C.151 was mid brown grey firm silty clay with occasional pebbles.

Interpretation: Possible cut of a truncated post-pad.

Group 5 Area 1Three pits C.153, C.159 and C.161.Pit C.153 filled with C.154, C.155, C.156, C.173, C.185, C.186, C.187 and C.188

The feature was irregular in plan. It measured 1.83m in length by 1.04m in width and 0.65m in depth. The break of slope at the top and at the base was sharp at east and gradual elsewhere. The sides were moderate and irregular at north, south and west, steep and concave at east. The base was irregular in plan and a tapered blunt point in profile. The feature was filled with eight deposits described in the table.

Con-text


Depth (m)

Fill description Interpretation

187 0.1 0.06 Firm mid yellowish brown sandy silt with occasional stones

Re-deposited natural subsoil

188 0.14 0.1 Soft light to mid reddish yellowish brown silty, sandy clay with occasional small stones and charcoal flecks

Disturbed by root activity mix of fill C.155, C.156 and C.173

154 1.1 0.02 Mid grey brown loose sand silt with moderate pebbles

Result of siltation

185 1.06 0.2 Stiff mid yellowish brown silty clay Fill deliberately put into kiln/pit

155 0.7 0.21 Dark blue black very soft clay silt with occasional pebbles, frequent flecks, small pieces and moderate medium pieces of charcoal

Pit deposit or part of wooden structure collapsed into kiln/pit

173 1.2 0.09 Indurate mid brownish grey sandy silt with frequent pebbles and occasional pieces of small burnt clay

Formed as a reaction from in situ burning rather then actively deposited up material

156 0.8 0.1 Mid red brown hard sand clay with frequent pebbles

A layer of burnt clay

186 0.4 0.08 Soft mid to dark reddish brown silty, sandy clay with moderate pebbles and occasional small stones

Small deposit of mixed mate-rial at the base of the pit

Tableoffillsofposs�kiln/pitC�153

The pit was interpreted on the site as possible kiln.

Derrybane 1-e3585

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Pit C.159 filled with C.160 and C.163The pit was oval in plan. It measured 3.4m in length by 2.4m in width and 0.3m in

depth. The break of slope at the top was gradual at south west and northwest, sharp at northeast and southeast. The sides were moderate and smooth at north, west and east, gentle and smooth at south. The fill C.160 was dark brown grey soft silty sand with oc-casional pebbles, small stones and flecks and small pieces of charcoal. The fill contained moderate small pieces of animal bone. The fill C.163 was located on the eastern end of the pit. It was mid orange brown compact silt with pebbles, small and large stones. The pit truncated pit C.161.

On site interpretation: Refuse pit.

Pit C.161 filled with C.162The pit was oval in plan. It measured 3.4m in length by 1.6m in width and 0.4m in

depth. The break of slope at the top was sharp at N and W, gradual at S and E. The sides were steep and irregular at north, gentle and irregular at south, gentle and smooth at east, steep and smooth at west. The break of slope at the base was gradual at south and east, imperceptible at north and sharp at south. Base was oval in plan and flat in profile. The fill was mid grey brown loose silty sand with moderate pebbles and large stones. The fill contained occasional flecks of charcoal and pieces of burnt bones.

On site interpretation: Refuse pit.


44

Appendix 4 Lithic artefacts report

by Farina Sternke

IntroductionThree lithic finds from the archaeological investigations of a multi-period site at Derry-bane 1, Co. Tipperary were presented for analysis (Table 1). The finds are associated with a series of pits, post holes, hearths and a kiln.

Find

Num

ber

Con

text

Mat

eria

l

Type

Cor

tex

Con

diti

on

Leng

th (m

m)

Wid

th (m

m)

Thi

ckn.

(mm

)

Com

plet

e

Ret

ouch

E3585:1:1 1 Flint Retouched Artefact

Yes Patinated 16 20 7 Yes distal, left and right edge direct semiabrupt

E3585:1:2 1 Quartz Hammer Stone?

Burnt 59 58 33 Yes No

E3585:145:1 145 Chert Natural Chunk

Table1:CompositionoftheLithicAssemblagefromDerrybane1(E3585)

MethodologyAll lithic artefacts are examined visually and catalogued using Microsoft Excel. The fol-lowing details are recorded for each artefact which measures at least 2 cm in length or width: context information, raw material type, artefact type, the presence of cortex, arte-fact condition, length, with and thickness measurements, fragmentation and the type of retouch (where applicable). The technological criteria recorded are based on the terminol-ogy and technology presented in Inizan et al. 1999. The general typological and morpho-logical classifications are based on Woodman et al. 2006. Struck lithics smaller than 2 cm are classed as debitage and not analysed further, unless they are retouched or of specific significance, e.g. cores etc. The same is done with natural chunks.

QuantificationThe artefacts are a flaked piece of flint (E3585:1:1), a possible utilised piece of quartz (E3585:1:1) and a natural chunk of chert (E3585:145:1). The two artefacts are larger than 2 cm in length and width and were therefore recorded in detail.

ProvenanceThe finds were recovered from the topsoil.

Derrybane 1-e3585

45


Condition:The recorded lithics survive in patinated (E3585:1:1) and burnt (E3585:1:2) condition. Both artefacts are complete and artefact E3585:1:1 bears the remnants of cortex.

Technology/Morphology: The lithics are a retouched artefact (E3585:1:1) and a possible macro tool (E3585:1:1).

Retouched Artefacts: The retouched artefact is a small convex end scraper which was produced on a bipolar split pebble flake. It measures 16 mm in length, 20 mm in width and 7 mm in thickness. The scraper dates to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Beaker period).

Macro Tools: The macro tool is a possible quartz hammer stone. It bears possible traces of wear on two opposed slightly flattened ends. The stone measures 59 mm long, 59 mm wide and 33 mm thick. It may also date to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.

Dating:The assemblage has to be regarded as technologically and typologically diagnostic and dates to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Beaker period).

ConservationLithics do not require specific conservation, but should be stored in a dry, stable environ-ment. Preferably, each lithic should be bagged separately and contact with other lithics should be avoided, so as to prevent damage and breakage, in particular edge damage which could later be misinterpreted as retouch. Larger and heavier items are best kept in individual boxes to avoid crushing of smaller assemblage pieces.

ConclusionThe lithic finds from the archaeological excavation at Derrybane 1, Co. Tipperary are a flint convex end scraper, a possible hammer stone and a natural piece of chert.

The assemblage is technologically diagnostic and dates to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Beaker period).

This site makes a minor contribution to the evidence for prehistoric settlement in Co. Tipperary.

Recommendations for Illustration

• Convex End Scraper (E3585:1:1)


46

Bibliography

Inizan, M.-L., M. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche and J. Tixier, 1999. Technology and Terminology of Knapped Stone 5. CREP, Nanterre.

Woodman, P. C., Finlay, N. and E. Anderson, 2006. The Archaeology of a Collection: The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. National Museum of Ireland Monograph Series 2. Wordwell, Bray.

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Appendix 5 Plant remains report

By Penny Johnston

IntroductionThis short report details the results of plant remains analysis from Derrybane 1, Co. Tip-perary (E3585). The site was split into three main areas of excavation, Areas 1, 2 and 3. The archaeological features excavated included a range of pits, corn drying kilns and some structural features such as stake-holes and post-holes. The plant remains were recovered from all areas of the site, but were only found in abundance in Area 3.

MethodologyThe samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-assisted 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 250 mm). When all the carbonised material was collected the flot was then air-dried in paper-lined drying trays prior to storage in airtight plastic bags. The samples were scanned under low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. Nomen-clature and taxonomic order follows Stace (1997).

ResultsThe results of preliminary scanning are presented in Table 1 at the end of this report. A total of 36 samples were scanned and plant remains were present in 25 samples. The iden-tifications of retrieved plant remains are presented in Table 2.

Area 1A single sample from Area 1 contained plant remains, including a weed seed and some fragments of hazelnut shell. These were from a deposit within the kiln C.153, but unlike the remains from the kiln in Area 3, there were no cereal grains from Area 1.

Area 2The plant remains from Area 2 were recovered from pits (C.62 and C.87), stake-hole (C.75) and the post-hole (C.83). The plant remains included a fruit stone (from sloe), a single weed seed identified as a cleaver (a very common weed of arable weeds) and a small quantity of cereal grains, almost all identified as barley. Hulled barley was the only type of barley grain found at this part of the site.


48

Area 3The plant remains from Area 3 were extremely rich, and were recovered from two features in particular; the pit (C.142) and the corn drying kiln (C.145). The percentage distribu-tion of plant remains in both of these features is very similar (see Figure 1 and Figure 2).

These percentage graphs indicate that both the pit and the kiln at Area 3 contain crop elements in similar proportions and it is likely that these features represent the remains of the same activity. Oat was the predominant cereal type found in Area 3 comprising 70% of the entire identifiable cereal assemblage (Figure 3). Wheat was found in small quantities, representing less than one quarter of the identifiable cereal assemblage. Barley and rye were found in much smaller proportions and represented less than 10% of the identifiable cereal assemblage.

Oat thrives in temperate regions because of its suitability to damp and cool climates. Wild oat may also have been important in prehistory (McClatchie 2007, 65) but these were wild oats. The introduction of cultivated oats and the role wild oats have played in diet and economy are two issues for future archaeobotanical research in Ireland (M. Monk pers. comm.). In general it is accepted that cultivated oats were introduced in Ireland in the early medieval period (Kelly 1998). Unfortunately, it is impossible to dis-tinguish between wild and cultivated varieties of oat in samples where floret bases are not present (these were not found at Derrybane 1). However, the large quantity of oat grains from Derrybane 1 suggests that the grains were largely from cultivated crops.

Wheat from this area of the site, accounting for almost one quarter of the identifiable cereal grains, were primarily identified as free-threshing wheat. Wheat has been a staple crop in much of Eurasia since the beginnings of cultivation and in early historic Ireland it had a high value; several early Irish texts attach a higher value to bread wheat than any other cereal (Kelly, 1998; 219-220). This is common across Europe in the historic period and reflects the prized whiteness of wheat flour, a colour not obtained using other grain types (Davidson, 1999; 844). While oats and barley are reasonably common crops in the early historic period, the arrival of the Anglo-Normans changed the emphasis of Irish agriculture to an intensive cereal production regime, with wheat being the staple crop in most areas of Anglo-Norman control. It was the standard food crop of the Pale and was grown elsewhere as render to the lords (Nicholls, 2003; 133).

SummaryThe plant remains from Derrybane 1 were primarily recovered from Area 3, as shown in the graph of comparative retrieval rates from each area (Figure 4). The plant remains from both Area 1 and Area 2 are so scattered that it is likely that they are incidental finds. The number of seeds recovered is so small that they are not considered significant. On the other hand, plant remains were recovered in large amounts from the kiln and the pit at Area 3. The cereals were primarily oats followed by a smaller quantity of wheat, mostly identified as bread wheat. Much smaller quantities of barley and rye were also found. This

Derrybane 1-e3585

49


assemblage of cereal remains is typical of medieval deposits, possibly even dating to the later medieval period.

Figure1

Figure2


50

Figure3

Figure4

Derrybane 1-e3585

51


ReferencesDavidson, A. 1999 The Oxford Companion to Food Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kelly, F. 1998 Early Irish Farming. Dublin, Institute for Advanced Studies.

McClatchie, M. 2007 ‘The plant remains’, in Doody, M. Excavations at Curracghatoor, Co. Tipperary. Cork, UCC Department of Archaeology Archaeological Monograph.

Nicholls, K. 2003 Gaelic and Gaelicized Ireland in the Middle Ages (2nd edition) Dublin: Lilliput Press.

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


52

Table1:ResultsofscanningofsamplesfromDerrybane1,Co�Tipperary(E3585)Sample Context Charcoal Seeds % Scanned Context3 15 H Absent 100 Pit fill7 5 H Absent 100 Post-hole fill15 45 H Absent 100 Stake-hole fill18 34 H Absent 100 Pit fill22 54 H Absent 100 Pit fill28 63 H L 100 Pit fill30 61 H Absent 100 Pit fill36 76 H L 100 Stake-hole fill40 84 H L 75 Post-hole fill55 90 H L 75 Layer58 94 H Absent 75 Pit fill67 140 H Absent 100 Hearth deposit79 201 H H 100 Kiln fill82 204 H M 40 Kiln fill84 205 L L 100 Kiln fill86 170 H M 100 Kiln fill87 171 H H 75 Kiln fill89 174 H L 100 Pit fill90 175 H L 100 Pit fill91 176 H L 100 Pit fill92 177 H L 100 Pit fill93 178 H Absent 100 Pit fill94 179 H L 100 Pit fill95 180 H L 100 Pit fill96 181 H L 100 Pit fill97 182 H L 100 Pit fill98 183 H L 100 Pit fill103 155 H L 50 Kiln fill106 186 H Absent 100 Kiln fill107 189 L Absent 100 Kiln fill109 191 H H 100 Kiln fill110 192 M L 100 Kiln fill111 193 H L 100 Kiln fill114 195 H L 100 Kiln fill116 172 H M 100 Kiln fill117 199 L L 100 Kiln fill

Key:H=Highfrequency,M=Mediumfrequency,L=Lowfrequency

Derrybane 1-e3585

53


Tabl

e2:

Iden

tified

pla

ntre

mai

nsfr

omD

erry

bane

1,C

o�T

ippe

rary

(E35

85)

Cut

num

ber

6275

8387

145

145

145

145

145

142

Con

text

6376

8490

201

204

205

170

171

174

Sam

ple

2836

4055

7982

8486

8789

Haz

elnu

t she

ll fra

gmen

ts (C

orylu

s ave

llana

L.)

9

Inde

term

inat

e see

ds fr

om th

e goo

sefo

ot fa

mily

(Che

nopo

diac

eae)

1

1

51

Balck

bin

dwee

d (F

allo

pia

conv

olvu

lus (

L.) Á

Löv

e)

1

1

14

Pr

obab

le Sh

eep’

s sor

rel (

Rum

ex c

f ace

tosel

la L

.)

3

I n

dete

rmin

ate s

eeds

from

the K

notg

rass

fam

ily (P

olyg

onac

eae)

28

31

Wild

radi

sh (R

apha

nus r

apha

nistr

um L

.) ca

psul

e

1

1

Bl

ackt

horn

: slo

e sto

nes (

Prun

us sp

inos

a L.

)

1

In

dete

rmin

ate s

eeds

from

the L

egum

e fam

ily (F

abac

eae)

13

7

Inde

term

inat

e see

ds fr

om th

e min

t fam

ily (L

amia

ceae

)

1

C

leave

rs (G

aliu

m a

parin

e L.)

1

2

Nip

plew

ort (

Laps

ana

com

mun

is L.

)

2

1

10

1Pr

obab

le C

orn

Mar

igol

d (C

hrysa

nthe

mum

cf s

eget

um L

.)

2

3

36

1In

dete

rmin

ate s

eeds

from

the d

aisy

fam

ily (A

stera

ceae

)

3

3

O

at g

rain

s (Av

ena

L. sp

ecie

s)

10

332

13

158

Po

ssib

le oa

t gra

ins (

cf A

vena

spec

ies)

4

19

Hul

led b

arle

y gr

ains

(Hor

deum

vul

gare

L.)

2

23

2

B arle

y gr

ains

of i

ndet

erm

inat

e spe

cies

(Hor

deum

spec

ies)

3

51

2

6

Rye g

rain

s (Se

cale

cere

ale)

2

Free

thre

shin

g w

heat

(Trit

icum

aest

ivum

L./t

urgi

dum

Des

f./du

rum

L.)

114

9

Prob

able

free t

hres

hing

whe

at (T

riticu

m c

f aest

ivum

L./t

urgi

dum

Des

f./du

rum

L.

)

15

9

11

Emm

er/B

read

whe

at (T

riticu

m d

icocc

um L

./aest

ivum

L./t

urgi

dum

Des

f./du

-ru

m L

.)

2

Whe

at g

rain

s (Tr

iticu

m L

. spe

cies

)

2

7

27

Ba

rley/

Whe

at (H

orde

um/T

riticu

m)

2

1

Inde

term

inat

e cer

eal g

rain

s

44

271

2121

In

dete

rmin

ate g

rass

seed

s (Po

acea

e)

8

4

16

I n

dete

rmin

ate w

eed

seed

s

23

2

4


54

Tabl

e2:

Iden

tified

pla

ntre

mai

nsfr

omD

erry

bane

1,C

o�T

ippe

rary

(E35

85)c

ontin

ued

Cut

num

ber

142

142

142

142

142

142

142

142

153

145

Con

text

180

175

176

177

179

181

182

183

155

191

Sam

ple

9590

9192

9496

9798

103

109

Haz

elnu

t she

ll fra

gmen

ts (C

orylu

s ave

llana

L.)

1

3

1

22

Inde

term

inat

e see

ds fr

om th

e goo

sefo

ot fa

mily

(Che

nopo

diac

eae)

1

12

Cor

n sp

urre

y (S

perg

ula

arve

nsis

L.)

3

Inde

term

inat

e see

ds fr

om th

e pin

k fa

mily

(Car

yoph

ylla

ceae

)

1Pa

le pe

rsic

aria

(Per

sicar

ia la

path

ifolia

(L.)

Gra

y)

5Bl

ack

bind

wee

d (F

allo

pia

conv

olvu

lus (

L.) Á

Löv

e)

1

4Pr

obab

le Sh

eep’

s sor

rel (

Rum

ex c

f ace

tosel

la L

.)

1

2

11

7In

dete

rmin

ate s

eeds

from

the K

notg

rass

fam

ily (P

olyg

onac

eae)

17

Wild

radi

sh (R

apha

nus r

apha

nistr

um L

.) ca

psul

e

11

In

dete

rmin

ate s

eeds

from

the L

egum

e fam

ily (F

abac

eae)

4

1

1

31

Plan

tain

(Pla

ntag

o L. s

peci

es)

2

Clea

vers

(Gal

ium

apa

rine L

.)

1

4N

ippl

ewor

t (La

psan

a co

mm

unis

L.)

1

2

Prob

able

Cor

n M

arig

old

(Chr

ysant

hem

um c

f seg

etum

L.)

2

1

29

Inde

term

inat

e see

ds fr

om th

e dai

sy fa

mily

(Aste

race

ae)

16

Oat

gra

ins (

Aven

a L.

spec

ies)

133

3

710

73

92

Hul

led b

arle

y gr

ains

(Hor

deum

vul

gare

L.)

1

1

9

Barle

y gr

ains

of i

ndet

erm

inat

e spe

cies

(Hor

deum

spec

ies)

3

2

4

Poss

ible

nake

d ba

rley

grai

ns (c

f Hor

deum

vul

gare

var

. nud

um)

1

Rye g

rain

s (Se

cale

cere

ale)

2

1

9

Free

thre

shin

g w

heat

(Trit

icum

aest

ivum

L./t

urgi

dum

Des

f./du

rum

L.)

23

4

3

1 2

Whe

at g

rain

s (Tr

iticu

m L

. spe

cies

)8

4

73

2

31In

dete

rmin

ate c

erea

l gra

ins

165

13

1015

121

11

2R

achi

s int

erno

des f

rom

inde

term

inat

e cer

eals

2

Inde

term

inat

e gra

ss se

eds (

Poac

eae)

1

2

31

5

Inde

term

inat

e wee

d se

eds

31

2

1

1

15

Derrybane 1-e3585

55


Table2:IdentifiedplantremainsfromDerrybane1,Co�Tipperary(E3585)continuedCut number 145 145 145 145 145Context 192 193 195 172 199Sample 110 111 114 116 117Indeterminate seeds from the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae) 1 1 Pale persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Gray) 1 Balck bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á Löve) 2 Probable Sheep’s sorrel (Rumex cf acetosella L.) 1 Indeterminate seeds from the Knotgrass family (Polygonaceae) 1 5 Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) capsule 1 1 Indeterminate seeds from the Legume family (Fabaceae) 2 5 1 Nipplewort (Lapsana communis L.) 1 4 Probable Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum cf segetum L.) 3 2 1Indeterminate daisy family seeds: marigold type (Asteraceae) 2 Oat grains (Avena L. species) 2 2 37 9 Barley grains of indeterminate species (Hordeum species) 1 1 Rye grains (Secale cereale) 1 1 Free threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum L./turgidum Desf./durum L.) 1 Wheat grains (Triticum L. species) 1 2 Barley/Wheat (Hordeum/Triticum) 1 Indeterminate cereal grains 2 4 9 1Indeterminate grass seeds (Poaceae) 2


56

Appendix 6 Animal bone report

Excavations here revealed a medieval corn-drying kiln and a number of undated features. Animal bones were found in very small quantities in just two of the excavated features. Ten indeterminate long bone fragments were found in the fill (C6) of a posthole (C27) of unknown date. The very fragmented remains of a cow skull were recovered from the fill (C204) of the corn-drying kiln. Identified elements include two mandible fragments, twelve loose teeth and 35 small pieces of skull. It is presumed that the cow skull was dis-carded into the kiln as part of a backfill deposit once cereal processing activities ceased at the site.

Education

Archaeological Report - Derrybane 1, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)