Enclosure in Ballydavid (twomileborris Par.)

Excavated monument described by Colum Hardy as 'a large sub-oval prehistoric enclosure' (Hardy 2008, i), located c.200m west of TN048-005 that was discovered along the lines of the future M8/N8 as part of the Cullahill to Cashel Road improvement scheme. The monument which was excavated between 2006-07 was located on a high hillock with good extensive views and consisted of a large ditch (top Wth 1-85-3m; base Wth 0.25-0.85m; D 0.75m-1.44m) enclosing a sub-oval shaped area measuring c.125m in diameter with a SE-facing entrance gap (Wth 2.8m). No evidence for any internal bank was uncovered. A series of pits and postholes forming a ciruclar (dims 6.1 x 3.6m) (Structure B) and an oval structure (dims. 7m x 6m) (Structure A) were excavated inside the enclosure. Quadrant. Structure A was located in the centre of the enclosure on the highest point of the hillock while the other structure was located in S A cereal drying kiln (TN048-056001) was discovered in the NE quadrant of the enclosure. Evidence of metalworking in the form of a series of furnace pits or pits filled with charcoal and metallurgical waste were also excavated. A series of post medieval field boundaries and large field clearance pits were also uncovered (Hardy 2008, i) . The broken sherds of a possible Bronze Age vessel were discovered at the base of the ditch, as well as large amounts of animal bones, two fragments of human bone were recovered from the ditch but there was no evidence for any burials. A saddle quern was also recovered from the fill of the ditch. The majority of the monument was excavated, however a section of the NW quadrant of the enclosure was outside the CPO of the Dublin Cork motorway and is still intact as sub-surface archaeology in the adjoining field to the motorway (pers. comm. Martin Reid). Hardy, C. (2008) M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel Road Improvement Scheme: Archaeological Resolution, Preliminary Report E2370; Site AR 26, Ballydavid Townland, Co. Tipperary. V. J. Keeley Ltd.