Habitation site in Piperstown

Situated on the S slopes of Piperstown Hill. A habitation site known as Site M. Excavated in 1962 it was found to consist of an irregular single-course ring of small and large rounded stones which delimited an area more sub-rectangular than oval, and which measured c. 5.5m north – south by 4m east – west, with an entrance at the south. A hearth was revealed slightly north of centre of the enclosure (0.95m by 0.65m) with each side formed of a single slab. Immediately east of the hearth was a circular pit (Pit 1; 1.4m diam.; 0.40m deep) which had been filled with large stones and contained a quantity of worked flint flakes and artifacts. To the south of this pit was a second one (Pit 2; 1.50m by 1.10m and 0.30m deep) located just inside the entrance feature. This also was filled with large stones and several struck flints and a few artifacts were recovered from it. The area around the entrance produced large quantities of flints, mostly waste flakes. (Rynne and Ó hEailidhe 1965, 71-5). This is part of an extensive settlement and cemetery of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date. Compiled by: Paul Walsh and Padraig Clancy Revised upload on: 8 July 2018