Aegis Archaeology - Curraghgraigue Upper

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Curraghgraigue Upper

Curraghgraigue Upper, County Tipperary
Flat Cemetery
Excavation
R933/717

Pits excavated at Pad 1

Archaeological excavation of a number of features identified during monitoring under licence number (03E1398) was undertaken at Curraghgraigue Upper, Latteragh, Nenagh, co. Tipperary, in advance of the construction of three wind turbines and ancillary works. A number of ringforts are present in the area surrounding the current development, while Knockadiggeen hillfort is also visible fro the site.

Excavarion of features, Knockadiggeen hillfort to rear

A total of eight pits and a stakehole were excavated in Pad 1, while five other similar features were excavated along the trackway leading from Pad 1 to Pad 2 (‘Pad' relates to the individual locations of the three wind turbines). The pits in Pad 1 varied from sub-oval to sub-circular in plan. The largest measured 1.30m in length by 0.80m, while the smallest measured 0.50m in diameter. Cremated bone was recovered from a single pit, while coarse prehistoric pottery was recovered on the surface between two other pits. Other pits had in situ burning. It is possible that these features also had a ritual function. Five pits were excavated in the trackway leading from Pad 1 and Pad 2. These pits were generally circular in plan and varied between 0.20m and 0.40m in diameter. Flecks of cremated bone was recovered from four of the pits.

(posted 1st half 2004)