Indicated — Tullahedy

Situated on a natural glacial hillock (dims. 110m x 125m) in flat low-lying boggy terrain. A natural quarry at the end of a glacial ridge as indicated on the latest ed. OS 6-inch map. An enclosure was indicated on the 1st ed. Map at this spot. The surface of the mound was excavated after archaeological deposits were identified in the face of an existing quarry which originally had been the site of an enclosure (TN020-079001). Excavation revealed that the mound had been almost enclosed by a linear ditch-type feature (Wth 8m x D 1.86m) which contained a charcoal-rich, black, peaty clay, overlain with a series of lightly charcoal flecked, compact, stony, orange/grey clays. Polished stone axes, chert arrowheads, struck chert, stone beads and a pendant were recovered from the fill of this ditch. There was evidence for an internal palisade which cut through the undisturbed natural subsoil and the upper ditch fill. Although numerous post-holes and stake-holes were identified all along the surface of the mound, two main areas were identified. Along the south face of the mound there was a large pit (dims. 8m x 6m x 2m) which had been lined with wooden planks that were burnt in situ. A few pieces of Neolithic pottery, chert scrapers, chert arrowheads and bone were recovered from the fill of this pit. A large polished shale axe was recovered from behind one of the planks lining the pit. The excavator suggested that the axe had been deliberately placed behind the lining of the pit possibly for ritual purposes. The east face of the mound produced evidence for a large hollowed-out area (Wth 16m x L 12m) with numerous post-holes, pits and stake-holes visible. Concentrated charcoal-rich areas and burnt red clay were visible suggesting that the hollowed-out area had been fired. This area was filled in returning the natural slope to the east face of the mound. Neolithic pottery and struck chert were recovered from this fill. The excavator suggested that Tullahedy represents an extensive ritual area from the Neolithic period on a scale previously unknown in the Irish archaeological record (McConway 2000b, 203-4). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008