Excavation — miscellaneous in Tankardstown South

In pasture 30m S of the townland boundary with Ballygubba. In the immediate vicinity of Neolithic House Site 1 (LI047-012001-) and House Site 2 (LI047-012002-) excavated by Christine Tarbett and Margaret Gowen between 1987 and 1988. A ditch was identified in 1987 when two cuttings were opened within an area 30m north and north-west of House 1 (LI047-012001-). The results of this excavation were summarised as follows; ‘A shallow ditch containing a small quantity of Neolithic pottery was excavated in the cutting between the established house sites. Features in the remaining cutting provided no dating material’ (Tarbett and Gowen 1988, 21). During excavations of House 2 (LI047-012002-) in 1988 two linear features excavated were described as follows; ‘At the north of the cutting the internal partition of the house (F 116) is crossed by a later, linear feature (F 113). In portion ‘A’ of the excavated foundation trench, the well defined terminal of a linear feature (F133/F182) running in the same direction may relate to this, but further excavation is required before this point can be ascertained. At the east of the site a linear feature (F86), first noted in Cutting 4 last year, appears to run right across the excavated area and is likely to relate to F 183 to the south of the southern wall of the house and adjacent to F 122. Neither feature has been fully investigated' (Tarbett and Gowen 1989, 25). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 1 September