Settlement deserted — medieval in Cranagh

Site identified on aerial photographs taken by M. Moore (ASIAP (44) 24-26, 28-32) taken in 1996. Extensive remains of a series of earthworks in an unploughed field with rock outcrop protruding from surface in places. Eastern half of field is occupied by quarry holes of 18th and 19th century. The western half of this field on top of high ground there are the remains of a circular enclosure (diam. N-S 40m; E-W 45m) enclosed by an earth and stone bank (top Wth 1.6m; base Wth 3m; int. H 0.1m; ext. H 0.5m) with traces of an outer fosse (base Wth 1.7m; Top Wth 3m; ext. D 0.2m) and possible external bank (Wth 2m; ext. H 0.2m). In the centre of the enclosure there are the remains of a small rectangular house site (dims.3m N-S x 9m E-W ) defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 1m; H 0.3m) with hollow interior (D 0.4m). To the S of this enclosure are the remains of two small rectangular enclosures (approx. dims. 14m N-S x 12m E-W ) and a series of low undulating earth and stone banks running off these two enclosures. To the N of the enclosure are the remains of several low earth and stone banks running N-S which may be the remains of medieval field boundaries. All the earthworks may be the remains of a deserted settlement clustered around a circular enclosure with house site and associated with church site (TN030-036) located approx. 250m to the SE. There are no remains of any earrhworks in the eastern half of the field as this area is peppered with 18th and 19th century quarry holes. 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