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Issue 11 [ISSN 2009-2237] Archaeological Excavation Report E4000 - Loughan, Co. Offaly Pits, postholes and hearths Eachtra Journal

Archaeological Report - Loughan, Co. Offaly (Ireland)

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The excavation of the site at Loughan comprised a small group of features; four pits, three posts and two hearths. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from one of the features. No structure was recorded but the group of features were probably domestic in origin, despite the lack of plant remains or artefactual evidence.

Citation preview

Issue 11 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report

E4000 - Loughan, Co. Offaly

Pits, postholes and hearths

Eachtra Journal

Pits, postholes and hearths

Archaeological Excavation Report

Co Offaly

Laois County Council and National Roads Authority

John Tierney

Loughan

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

E No

:Project:

Client:

E4000

John TierneyExcavation Director

Written by:

July 2011

N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1)

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]

Archaeological Excavation Report

Loughan Co Offaly

Excavation Director

John Tierney

Written By

John Tierney

EACHTRAArchaeological 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)����������������������������������������������������������������� 6

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

5 SiteLocationandTopography�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

6 Excavationmethodology������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 7

7 Excavationresults������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10

8 Discussion�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15

9 References�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16

Appendix1 Sitematrix������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17

Appendix2 Groupsandsubgroups������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18

Appendix3 PlantRemains������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22

ii

List of FiguresFigure1: PortionofmapofIrelandshowingtherouteoftheN7CastletowntoNenagh(Derrin-

sallaghtoBallintotty)RoadScheme(Contract1)�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2

Figure2: DiscoveryseriesOSmapshowingtherouteoftheN7CastletowntoNenagh(Derrin-sallaghtoBallintotty)RoadScheme(Contract1)andthelocationofallexcavationsites��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5

Figure3: PortionoftheIsteditionOrdnanceSurveyMapOF47showingthelocationofLoughan�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8

Figure4: LocationandextentofLoughanE4000ontheN7CastletowntoNenagh�������������������������� 9

Figure5: PostexcavationplanofLoughanE4000����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12

Figure6: Profileofpost-holeC�15andsectionsofpitC�3andhearthC�9��������������������������������������������� 13

List of PlatesPlate1: Mid-excavationofpitC�3���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11

Plate2: Post-excavationofpost-holeC�15������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 11

Plate4: Mid-excavationofhearthC�9andpost-holeC�11������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14

Plate3: Mid-excavationofpitC�13andpost-holeC�20����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14

Plate5: Mid-excavationofhearthC�5������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15

List of TablesTable1:Radiocarbondates�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10

Loughan -E4000

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SummaryThe excavation of the site at Loughan comprised a small group of features; four pits, three posts and two hearths. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from one of the features. No structure was recorded but the group of features were probably domestic in origin, despite the lack of plant remains or artefactual evidence.

Road project name N7 Castletown to Nenagh Site name LoughanE no. E4000Site director John TierneyTownland LoughanParish FinglasCounty OffalyBarony ClonliskOS Map Sheet No. OF47National Grid Reference 206137 / 182699

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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 and Penny Johnston and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast.

Loughan -E4000

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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 (Figure 1). 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 Her-itage 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 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. 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% basis peat. They are derived from glacial till of predominantly Car-boniferous limestone composition. These soils occur in Tipperary and Offaly and have a 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.

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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-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, 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).

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.

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

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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 at Greenhills.

5 Site Location and TopographyThis site was located on a gentle slope, at a height of 170m OD. Moatquarter 1 E3910, was located to the c. 150m south. The site is at the very southern tip of County Offaly, just north of the county bounds.

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. Where appropri-ate mini-diggers were used, and in the larger areas to be stripped multiple large tracked machines were used; all stripping operations involved the use of multiple dumpers for topsoil mounding. 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 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 Archaeological works as attached to the licence method statements for excavation licences.

The site was excavated from 28 January 2008 and the on-site phase of work was com-pleted within a week. Only areas within the LMA were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation measured 300 msq (Figure 4).

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

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7 Excavation resultsA group of nine features, including four pits, three driven posts and two hearths were excavated at Loughan (Figure 5). The area of excavation measured 20m by 15m.

The pitsFour pits (C.3, C.13, C.22 and C.25) were interspersed with the post-holes and hearths. They were all small in size and varied in depth from 0.06-0.3m. The fills of the pits were similar, being silty sands with occasional flecks of charcoal. An early Bronze Age date of cal BC 1664-1650 1642-1502 (UB-12354) was returned from the fill of pit C.3 (Plate 1).

The post-holes The three post-holes (C.11, C.15 and C.20) were varied in size and depth. One of the post-holes C.15 was very deep, being 0.7m in depth (Figure 6, Plate 2). The fills were silty sands with occasional flecks of charcoal and were similar in composition to the natural sub-soil. It is likely that the wooden posts were removed and did not decay in situ.

The post-holes did not form any discernible structure but two were associated with two of the pits; C.20 cut pit C.13 and C.11 cut pit C.9 (Plates 3 and 4).

The hearthsThe two hearths (C.5 and C.9) were small in size. The fill of hearth C.9 was burnt and the base was scorched. The base of hearth C.5 was less intensively scorched (Plate 5).

Plant remainsThe plant remains were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 3). There were no charred seeds identified in the samples from this site.

CharcoalThe 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. 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-calibrated date δ 13 C 2 sigma calibration PeriodUB-12354 C.4 Spindle

charcoal3301 +/- 30 -25.3 cal BC 1664-1650

1642-1502Early Bronze Age

Table1:Radiocarbondates

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Figure5: PostexcavationplanofLoughanE4000�

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0 500 mm

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Figure6: Profileofpost-holeC�15andsectionsofpitC�3andhearthC�9�

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Plate3: Mid-excavationofpitC�13andpost-holeC�20�

Plate4: Mid-excavationofhearthC�9andpost-holeC�11�

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8 DiscussionThe site at Loughan comprised a small group of prehistoric features, dated to the later end of the Early Bronze Age. No actual structure was recorded at Loughan but the group of post-holes, pits and hearths were probably domestic in origin, despite the lack of plant remains or artefactual evidence. The site could have been temporary in nature in contrast to the substantial Bronze Age settlement site recorded at Drumbaun E3912 2.5 km to the west.

The site is of limited archaeological significance in its own right but it does contribute to our understanding of the different kinds of sites that were occupied in the Bronze Age.

Plate5: Mid-excavationofhearthC�5�

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9 ReferencesFarrelly, 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 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 Architec-

tural Heritage of North Tipperary. Government of Ireland.O’Conor, K.D. (1998) The Archaeology of Medieval Rural Settlement in Ireland, Discov-

ery Programme Monographs No 3, Discovery Programme/Royal Irish Academy Dublin. 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.

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.

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Appendix 1 Site matrix

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Appendix 2 Groups and subgroups

A series of four pits, three driven posts and two hearths were excavated. Group No. Description Subgroup No. Description Context No.Group 1 Natural

DepositsA Topsoil C.1

B Subsoil C.2Group 2 Pits A 4 pits C.3, C.13, C.22 &

C.25Group 3 Driven Posts A 3 driven posts C.11, C.15 & C.20Group 4 Hearths A 2 possible hearths C.5 & C.9Group 5 Non-archaeo-

logicalA & B 2 non-archaeological

featuresC.7 & C.18

Group 1 Natural DepositsTopsoil C.1The topsoil was a mid grey brown loose silt sand. The maximum depth of topsoil was

0.4 m. Subsoil C.2The subsoil was a mid brown grey soft sand silt. This is the natural subsoil which oc-

curs under the features and is found across the site.

Group 2 Pits Pit C.3 filled with C.4DescriptionThe pit was oval shape in plan. Sharp break of slope top at N, gradual elsewhere. Sides

were vertical and smooth at N, steep and smooth at S and E, moderate and stepped at W. Break of slope base was gradual. Base was sub-circular in plan and flat in profile. The pit measured 0.64m northeast southwest by 0.58m and had a maximum depth of 0.3m. The fill was a mid grey brown firm sand silt. Occasional coarse rounded pebbles and medium sub-angular stones.

Interpretation Cut of a pit.

Pit C.13 filled with C.14DescriptionThe pit was sub-circular shape in plan. Gradual break of slope top and base. Sides

were gentle and concave. Base was sub-circular in plan and concave in profile. The pit measured 0.56m north south by 0.4m and had a maximum depth of 0.06m. The fill was a mid grey brown loose sand silt with occasional fine and medium sub-angular pebbles as well as occasional flecks of charcoal.

Interpretation Cut of a pit.

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Pit C.22 filled with C.23 and C.24DescriptionThe pit was circular shape in plan. Break of slope top was imperceptible at S, gradual

elsewhere. Sides were steep and smooth. Break of slope base was gradual at S and W, sharp at N and E. Base was circular in plan and flat in profile. The pit measured 0.36m north south by 0.33m and had a maximum depth of 0.30m. The upper fill was a mid yellow brown soft sand silt with occasional coarse angular and sub-angular pebbles and small sub-rounded stones. The basal fill was a light brown firm sand silt with occasional flecks of charcoal.

Interpretation Cut of a pit.

Pit C.25 filled with C.26DescriptionThe pit was oval shape in plan. Break of slope top and base was imperceptible at S,

gradual elsewhere. Sides were steep and smooth at N, gentle and smooth at S, moderate and smooth at E and W. Base was oval in plan and concave in profile. The pit measured 0.56m north south by 0.25m and had a maximum depth of 0.13m. The fill was a mid yel-low brown firm sand silt with occasional flecks of charcoal.

Interpretation Cut of a pit.

Group 3 Driven Posts Driven post C.11 filled with C.12DescriptionThe posthole was oval shape in plan. Sharp break of slope at the top and the base.

Sides were vertical and irregular at E, vertical and smooth elsewhere. Base was oval in plan and a tapered point in profile. The cut measured 0.2m northwest southeast by 0.41m and had a maximum depth of 0.18m. The fill was a mid brown loose silt sand with cca-sional pebbles and flecks of charcoal.

Interpretation: Cut of a driven post which truncated hearth C.9.

Driven post C.15 filled with C.16 and C.17DescriptionThe posthole was circular shape in plan. Break of slope top gradual at S, sharp else-

where. Sides were vertical and irregular at S, vertical and smooth elsewhere. Break of slope base was gradual. Base was circular in plan and had a tapered rounded point in profile. The cut measured 0.3m by 0.28m and had a maximum depth of 0.7m, the cut was orien-tated east west. The upper fill was a mid grey brown firm sand silt with occasional pebbles and flecks and small pieces of charcoal. The basal fill was a light yellow brown firm sand silt with occasional pebbles and flecks of charcoal.

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Interpretation:Cut of a driven post

Driven post C.20 filled with C.21DescriptionThe posthole was circular shape in plan. Gradual break of slope at the top and the

base. Sides were steep and smooth. Base was circular in plan and concave in profile. The cut measured 0.25m northeast southwest by 0.22m and had a maximum depth of 0.14m. The fill was mid grey brown loose silt sand with occasional pebbles and flecks of charcoal.

Interpretation:Cut of a driven post which truncated pit C.13

Group 4 HearthsHearth C5 filled with C.6DescriptionThe cut was sub-circular shape in plan. Imperceptible break of slope at the top and the

base. Sides were gentle and concave. Base was sub-circular in plan and concave in profile. The fill was a mid grey brown soft peaty silt with occasional fine sub-angular pebbles and occasional flecks of charcoal. The cut measured 0.62m east west by 0.55m and had a maximum depth of 0.08m.

Interpretation Cut of a hearth.

Hearth C9 filled with C.10DescriptionThe cut was oval shape in plan. Gradual break of slope at the top and the base. Sides

were moderate and smooth. Base was circular in plan and concave in profile. The cut measured 0.76m east west by 0.5m and had a maximum depth of 0.34m. The fill was a dark black loose silt sand with occasional angular coarse pebbles, angular and sub-angu-lar small stones. Moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal were also present.

Interpretation Cut of a hearth. The hearth has been truncated by the driven post C.11.

Group 5 Natural featuresNon-archaeological C7 filled with C.8DescriptionThe cut was sub-circular shape in plan. Gradual break of slope top and base. Sides

were gentle and smooth at S, gentle and concave elsewhere. Base was irregular in plan and undulating in profile. The fill was a mid brown grey loose silt sand with occasional sub-angular fine pebbles.

InterpretationNatural hollow/depression

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Non-archaeological C18 filled with C.19DescriptionThe cut was irregular shape in plan. Gradual break of slope at the top and base. Sides

were moderate and concave at N, moderate and smooth elsewhere. Base was irregular in plan and undulating in profile. The fill was a mid grey brown loose silt sand. Occasional sub-angular fine pebbles and occasional flecks of charcoal.

InterpretationBiotrubation

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Appendix 3 Plant RemainsBy Penny Johnston

IntroductionThis report details the results of preliminary assessment work carried out on sieved

samples from Loughan 1, Co. Offaly (E4000). The site comprised pits, post-holes and hearths.

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 250mm).

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 un-der low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. The results of preliminary scanning are presented in Table 1 at the end of this report. A total of 5 samples were scanned.

Recommendations for further analysis of charcoalCharcoal was present in 4 of the samples. It was noted in high frequencies in 1 sam-

ple and in low frequencies in the remaining 3 samples. The sample with high frequency should be chosen for further analysis.

Recommendations for further analysis of plant remainsThere were no charred seeds in the samples from this site. No further work is required

for these samples.

References

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

Table 1Sample Context Charcoal Seeds Percentage3 10 Low Absent 1004 4 High Absent 1007 21 Absent Absent 1009 24 Low Absent 10011 14 Low Absent 100

Table1:ScannedsamplesfromLoughan1,Co�Offaly(E4000)