Metalworking site in Rossan

Situated on a N-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of sub-surface archaeological features was identified by Ian Russell in centre-line testing (02E0108) for the M4 Dublin to Galway motorway and set aside as Rossan 6. Excavation (02E1068) revealed 17 pits cut into subsoil, three of which with oxidized bases and containing charcoal and large slag inclusions were located at the S edge of the excavated area. They are interpreted as a bowl furnace (0.78m x 0.76m; D 0.4m) with a radiocarbon date of Cal. BC 370-50, and two bloom-smithing hearths (dims 3.5m x 3.2m; D 0.44m; 1.48m x 0.73m; D 0.21m) the larger of which may have originated as a charcoal production pit and has a C14 date of Cal BC 820-780 from the primary fill (Murphy 2004, 6-7). About 60m to the NNW is an area with about 10 pits (diam. 0.62m; D 0.44m to 2.9 x 1.98m; max. D 0.39m) filled with silty sands and clays containing some charcoal or oxidized clay, but no artefacts were recovered and only one unworked flint was found in one of the hearths (ibid. 3-7). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 August 2013