Metalworking site in Ardan

New monument described as Ardan 3, excavated by Linda Hegarty, Headland Archaeology Ltd in 2006 in advance of the proposed N52 Tullamore bypass national road scheme, was located c. 2km north of Tullamore. The land comprised gently undulating farmland immediately to the east of the N52, which was under pasture at the time of testing. The site was covered by mid-brown silty sand topsoil with an average depth of 0.4m. This contained moderate amounts of small and medium mixed stones. The glacial till in this area consisted of a yellowish-orange coarse gravelly sand that included small stones, medium boulders and sub-rounded cobble-sized stones. Two small cut features were identified in the centreline trench c. 10m north-east of offset T3. One of the features was truncated by a modern field drain. An area of 10m north-east/south-west by 8m was opened around the features, but no further archaeological deposits were identified. The larger of the two features, Context 04, was circular with vertical sides and a slightly concave base. The feature measured 0.35m in diameter and 0.19m deep. There was no evidence of in situ burning around the edges of the cut. It was filled with a firm greyish-brown sandy silt with occasional flecks and fragments of charcoal and occasional pieces of ferrous slag. No artefacts were recovered and the deposit was sampled for future environmental analysis. Context 06 was c. 0.35m east of Context 04. It was truncated on its eastern edge by a modern field drain. Consequently its full extent could not be determined, but the feature survived to a diameter of 0.25m and a depth of 0.1m. It was circular with vertical sides and an irregular base. Context 06 was filled with a firm black/brown sandy silt with occasional inclusions of charcoal flecks and fragments, and occasional pieces of ferrous slag. No artefacts were recovered and the deposit was sampled for future environmental analysis (Bennett 2009, 447). Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision : 07 November 2011