N6 KINNEGAD – ATHLONE SCHEME PHASE 2: KILBEGGAN TO ATHLONE
DUAL CARRIAGEWAY
SITE A016/080; E3279: TONAPHORT 2
FINAL REPORT
ON BEHALF OF WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCIL
7 AUGUST 2009
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Reference No. WH/00/112 N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Project Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Ministerial Direction Reference No. A016/080 NMS Registration Number E3279
Excavation Director Tim Coughlan Senior Archaeologist Shane Delaney Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Consultant Bray, Co. Wicklow Client Westmeath County Council
Site Name Tonaphort 2 Site Type Burnt Pit or Possible Bowl Furnace Townland Tonaphort Parish Kilbeggan County Westmeath NGR (Easting) E232920 NGR (Northing) N234450 Chainage 28910–28935 Height m OD 66.5m OD
RMP No. N/A
Excavation Start Date 23 March 2006 Excavation Duration 1 day
Report Type Final Report Date 7 August 2009 Report By Tim Coughlan
N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report has been prepared by Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd on behalf of Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority in advance of the construction of the N6 Phase 2: Kilbeggan to Athlone Dual Carriageway Scheme.
The excavation was carried out in accordance with the Directions of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOEHLG), in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) issued under Section 14 of the National Monuments Acts 1930–2004.
CONSULTING ENGINEERS Project Manager – Harry Meighan, ROD/RH WSP JV Project Engineer – Morgan Hart, ROD/RH WSP JV Project Resident Engineer – Michael Brazil, ROD/RH WSP JV Resident Engineer – Cliff Webb, ROD/RH WSP JV
NRDO WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCIL Senior Engineer – John Ahern Project Engineer – Michael Kelly Project Liaison officer – Niall Kennedy
NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY Engineering Inspector – John McGuinness Senior Project Archaeologist – Ronan Swan Project Archaeologist – Orlaith Egan
NATIONAL MONUMENTS, DOEHLG Archaeologist – Martin Reid
IRISH ANTIQUITIES DIVISION, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND
REPORT PRODUCTION Report Formatted and Edited by – Fintan Walsh, Joanne O’Meadhra-Elder, Maeve Tobin and Elaine Tobin Report Research – Jonathan Kinsella and Eimear O’Connor
i Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
ABSTRACT
Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by Westmeath County Council (WCC) and the National Roads Authority (NRA), undertook an excavation in the townland of Tonaphort at the site of Tonaphort 2 in advance of the proposed N6 Phase 2: Kilbeggan to Athlone Dual Carriageway Scheme (Figure 1). The following report describes the final results of archaeological fieldwork at that site. The area was fully excavated by Tim Coughlan under Ministerial Direction (A016/080) and NMS Registration Number E3279 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The fieldwork took place on the 23 March 2006.
The site at Tonaphort 2 was located in pastureland 1km southwest of Kilbeggan town.
Excavations at the site revealed a possible bowl furnace or burnt pit which was 0.49m long by 0.36m wide and 0.15m deep. It had evidence of in situ burning and a high charcoal content in its primary fill C4. It was an isolated feature and no finds were recovered from site.
Although there was only one feature on this site, it was located in an area that was quite rich in archaeology. Tonaphort 1 (A016/079) positioned 100m to the west was a burnt mound site with evidence for both early Bronze Age and middle Bronze Age activity. Tonaphort 3 (A016/081) located 50m to the east consisted of a charcoal production kiln which returned a 2 Sigma calibrated date of AD 777–970 and two cereal-drying kilns, one of which was dated to AD 1499–1644 (2 Sigma). These dates indicate that Tonaphort was also the location of both early medieval and late medieval activity. While the exact function and date of the pit at Tonaphort 2 is unknown, it is possible that it is related to one or other of these nearby sites placing it within a Bronze Age or early medieval – medieval context.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy ii N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 General...... 1 1.2 Proposed Development...... 1 1.3 Archaeological Requirements ...... 1 1.4 Methodology...... 2 2 EXCAVATION RESULTS ...... 3 2.1 Phase 1: Natural Drift Geology...... 3 2.2 Phase 2: Archaeological Activity ...... 3 2.2.1 Burnt Pit/Possible Bowl Furnace C5 ...... 3 2.3 Phase 3: Topsoil...... 3 2.3.1 Topsoil...... 3 3. SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION...... 4 3.1 Landscape Setting...... 4 3.2 Archaeological Landscape ...... 4 3.2.1 Bronze Age...... 4 3.2.2 Early Medieval...... 6 3.3 Archaeological Typology Background (Metalworking Furnaces) ...... 7 3.4 Discussion ...... 8 3.4.1 Phase 1: Natural Drift Geology...... 8 3.4.2 Phase 2: Archaeological Activity ...... 8 3.4.3 Phase 3: Topsoil...... 9 4 CONCLUSIONS...... 10 5 BIBLIOGRAPHY...... 11 5.1 References ...... 11 5.2 Other Sources ...... 13 PLATES...... 14 APPENDIX 1 CATALOGUE OF PRIMARY DATA...... I Appendix 1.1 Context Register ...... i Appendix 1.2 Catalogue of Artefacts ...... ii Appendix 1.3 Catalogue of Ecofacts...... iii Appendix 1.4 Archive Checklist ...... iv Appendix 1.5 Copy of Registration No. Document from DoEHLG...... v Appendix 1.6 Copy of Ministerial Direction Document...... vi APPENDIX 2 LIST OF RMP SITES IN AREA ...... VII APPENDIX 3 LIST OF N6 SCHEME SITE NAMES ...... VIII FIGURES
iii Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
List of Figures:
Figure 1: E3279 Tonaphort 2 site location on OS Discovery series background Figure 2: E3279 Tonaphort 2 showing RMPs with OS background Figure 3: E3279 Tonaphort 2 location of site within development Figure 4: E3279 Tonaphort 2 post-excavation plan Figure 5: E3279 Tonaphort 2 southeast facing section of C5 Figure 6: E3279 Tonaphort 2 matrix
List of Plates:
Cover photo: Pit C5, post-excavation Plate 1: E3279: C5, pre-excavation, facing west Plate 2: E3279: C5, post-excavation, facing west
Irish Archaeological Consultancy iv N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 General This final archaeological report describes the results of the excavation carried out at the site of Tonaphort 2 in the townland of Tonaphort, Co. Westmeath (Figures 1 and 2) as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Phase 2: Kilbeggan to Athlone Dual Carriageway Scheme. Archaeological fieldwork was carried out under ministerial direction by Tim Coughlan of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC Ltd) and was funded by Westmeath County Council & National Roads Authority under the National Development Plan 2000–2006, 2007–2013 and the EU Structural fund.
Tonaphort 2 was identified during an archaeological assessment undertaken by IAC Ltd. in July 2005 (NMS Registration No. E3273). The feature identified during the assessment phase (possible bowl furnace or pit) was fully recorded and excavated during the full resolution phase of the project which took place on 23 March 2006 with a team of 1 director, 1 supervisor and 1 site assistant.
The site was located in flat pastureland close to the flood plain of the river Brosna, at a height of 66.5m OD, c. 100m to the west of a tertiary road linking the existing N6 to the N52 and c. 1km south of Kilbeggan (Westmeath OS sheet 38). The field is within the Glebe House Estate (CHS No. 105), and the house can be seen on a hillock close to the south of the CPO line. To the east (c. 50m) of the site was the site of Tonaphort 3 excavated under ministerial directive A016/081 whilst c. 100m to the west was the site of Tonaphort 1 excavated under ministerial directive A016/079. Tonaphort 2 had not been previously identified and was not a recorded monument.
The site was assigned the following identification data:
Site Name: Tonaphort 2; Ministerial Direction No.: A016/080; NMS Registration No.: E3279; Route Chainage (Ch): 28910–28935; NGR: 232920/234450.
1.2 Proposed Development The proposed N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Scheme is to be constructed in two phases. The Phase 2 Kilbeggan–Athlone scheme will consist of a dual carriageway that will run for a distance of approximately 29km. The location of the route is predominantly to the south of the existing N6 and there will be access to the local road network through the seven grade separated junctions located at Athlone, Farnagh, Moate and Kilbeggan. The cross-section of the mainline consists of 2m wide verges, 2.5m wide hard shoulders, 7m wide two-lane carriageways and a 3m wide central reserve. This central reserve will accommodate 1m hard strips and a safety barrier. In addition to the mainline dual carriageway there is a further 0.3km of standard dual carriageway to the south of Athlone Interchange to connect to the existing N6 and 1.2km to the south of Kilbeggan Interchange to connect to the existing N52.
1.3 Archaeological Requirements The archaeological requirements for the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone Dual Carriageway Scheme, are outlined in the Ministerial Directions issued to Westmeath County Council by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government under Section 14A (2) of the National Monuments Acts 1930–2004 and in the terms of the contract between Westmeath County Council and Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd. These instructions form the basis of all archaeological works undertaken for this development. The archaeological excavation works under this contract are located between the townlands of Kilbeggan South, Co. Westmeath and Creggan Lower, Co. Westmeath.
1 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
The proposed N6 was subjected to an Environmental Impact Assessment, the archaeology and cultural history section of which was carried out by Sheila Lane and Associates and presented in 2003. The Record of Monuments and Places, the Sites and Monuments Record, Topographical files, aerial photography, the Westmeath Archaeological Urban Survey and literary sources were all consulted. One phase of geophysical survey was also conducted at selected sites along the proposed route by Target Archaeological Geophysics. As a result of the paper survey, field inspections and geophysical survey, a number of potential sites were recorded in proximity to this section of the overall route alignment.
Advance archaeological testing was completed by IAC Ltd and excavation of the sites identified during testing was conducted by IAC Ltd on behalf of Westmeath County Council.
1.4 Methodology The topsoil was reduced to the interface between topsoil and natural subsoil using a 20 tonne mechanical excavator equipped with a flat toothless bucket under strict archaeological supervision. The remaining topsoil was removed by the archaeological team with the use of shovels, hoes and trowels in order to expose and identify the archaeological remains. A site grid was set up at 10m intervals and was subsequently calibrated to the national grid using GPS survey equipment.
All features were subsequently fully excavated by hand and recorded using the single context recording system with plans and sections being produced at a scale of 1:50, 1:20 or 1:10 as appropriate.
A complete photographic record was maintained throughout the excavation. Digital photographs were taken of all features and of work in progress.
An environmental strategy was devised at the beginning of the excavation. Where relevant, features exhibiting large amounts of carbonised material were the primary targets. If present, features containing metallurgical waste were fully sampled for analysis.
In the instances where artefacts were uncovered on site they were dealt with in accordance with the guidelines as issued by the NMI and where warranted in consultation with the relevant specialists. All artefacts, ecofacts and paper archive are currently stored in IAC offices, Lismore, Co Waterford and will ultimately be deposited with the National Museum of Ireland.
Radiocarbon dating of the site was carried out by means of AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) dating of identified and recommended charcoal samples. All calibrated AMS dates in this report are quoted to 2 Sigma.
All excavation and post excavation works were carried out in consultation and agreement with the Project Archaeologist, the National Monuments Section of the DOEHLG and the National Museum of Ireland.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy 2 N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
2 EXCAVATION RESULTS
A single burnt pit/possible bowl furnace was the only archaeological activity identified at Tonaphort 2.
Detailed descriptions of the contexts are listed in Appendix 1. The site matrix is detailed in Figure 6.
2.1 Phase 1: Natural Drift Geology The dominant bedrock geology identified along the corridor of the proposed route are Lower Carboniferous rocks, mainly limestone lithologies, which overlay Devonian Old Red Sandstone rocks. Carboniferous volcanic rocks were also identified as being present locally in the form of sills passing through the bedrock sequences (Riada Consult, 2003). The underlying geology of the area is overlain by occasional moraines and small glacial hillocks covered by grey brown podzolic soils.
The subsoil C2 above bedrock encountered at Tonaphort 2 was uniform across the site and consisted of compact, yellow clay with stone and gravel inclusions.
2.2 Phase 2: Archaeological Activity
2.2.1 Burnt Pit/Possible Bowl Furnace C5
Context Fill of L(m) W(m) D(m) Basic Description Interpretation 3 C5 0.46 0.36 0.03 Grey-brown, clay, charcoal Upper fill of C5 4 C5 0.49 0.36 0.13 Black clay, mottled redeposited natural, ash Lower fill of C5 5 N/A 0.49 0.36 0.15 Irregular oval cut, irregular rounded base Cut of burnt pit
Finds: None
Interpretation: The above contexts represent a small burnt pit or possible bowl furnace (Figure 5; Plates 1 & 2) It was the only archaeological feature on the site (Figure 4). There was evidence for in situ burning and the primary fill had a high charcoal content. Pits with evidence of burning were also recorded on adjacent sites Tonaphort 3 (Coughlan, 2009a) positioned 50m to the east, and burnt mound site Tonaphort 1 (Coughlan, 2009b) positioned 100m to the west, but it could not be established if either of these sites were associated with Tonaphort 2. Although the date for the feature could not be established, bowl furnaces most commonly date to the early medieval period, although examples are known from the Iron Age through to the later middle ages.
2.3 Phase 3: Topsoil
2.3.1 Topsoil
Context Fill of L(m) W(m) D(m) Basic Description Interpretation 1 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 Variable, loose, dark brown, silt, stones, pebbles Topsoil
Finds: None
Interpretation: Phase 3 represents the topsoil that sealed all of the archaeological deposits and features at Tonaphort 2. The topsoil had a depth of c. 0.3m.
3 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
3. SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Landscape Setting The new route of the N6 runs from south of Kilbeggan town to east of Athlone Co. Westmeath, crossing through the northern part of Co. Offaly for approximately 7.5km of its entire length. The landscape of this area is comprised of generally flat to undulating terrain. The underlying geology of the area is dominated by carboniferous limestone and is overlain by occasional glacial features such as moraines and eskers. The eskers dominate to the north and south of most of the route, with moraines featuring along parts of the western section toward Athlone. The soil cover varies considerably across the scheme, passing through soil complexes, grey brown podzols, boglands and alluvial deposits. The area is drained by the River Shannon through its tributaries, the Brosna, Boor, Cloghatanny and Gageborough rivers.
The site at Tonaphort 2 was located 1km southwest of Kilbeggan town in low-lying pasture (66.5m OD). The underlying geology of the area is carboniferous limestone, which is overlain with occasional small glacial hillocks, forming a gently undulating low-lying landscape. Soil cover in this area consists of grey brown podzolics of the Patrickswell series to the east and regosols in the flood plain of the River Brosna to the west. The Brosna River lay 100m northwest of the site. A small boggy area with rock outcrops was noted on the 25” OS map (1887–1913) 800m to the southwest in Moycashel townland, while a small boggy area with rock outcrops was noted 300m north of the site.
3.2 Archaeological Landscape
3.2.1 Bronze Age Apart from the publication of archaeological inventories in some midland counties – such as Offaly (O’Brien and Sweetman 1999) for example (there is no archaeological inventory for Co. Westmeath) and peatland surveys by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (Moloney et al. 1993) our knowledge of the prehistoric archaeology of the midlands is limited. We are reliant on data stored at the RMP (see Appendix 3) and information from a limited number of excavations within Westmeath and Offaly. The most important of these is Hencken’s (1942) investigation at Ballinderry crannog II in the barony of Kilcoursey, Co. Offaly, which revealed a late Bronze Age settlement phase (see also Newman 1997 for a reappraisal of the archaeological evidence). However, this picture is quickly changing as a result of commercially- driven archaeology such as the gas pipeline to the west (Grogan et al. 2007) which runs mostly parallel a short distance to the north of the N6, and excavations in advance of this road scheme.
The gas pipeline has been extremely informative for revealing a range of archaeological sites in south Westmeath, a county that has traditionally witnessed only minor scholarly research, similar to, although in smaller quantities, those in landscapes that have received more extensive attention, (Grogan et al. 2007, 24). This is most apparent for the Bronze Age as both the gas pipeline and excavations along the N6 have identified a wealth of domestic and burial evidence covering the early, middle and late parts of the period.
The area immediately surrounding Kilbeggan contains direct evidence for a range of Bronze Age sites including barrows, cists and an early Bronze Age pit burial (Grogan et al. 2007, 138, fig. 6.6). The cists, at Ardballymore (WM037-009) and Kilgaroan (WM037-010), are located in close proximity to a number of sites impacted by the N6 including those in the townlands of (moving east to west) Kilbeggan South, Tonaphort, Ballinderry Big, Kilgaroan, Ardballymore, Ballinderry Little, Correagh and
Irish Archaeological Consultancy 4 N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Kilbeg. This is significant because sites within the majority of these townlands (except Ballinderry Little 1 which was not dated) have produced early to late Bronze Age evidence almost exclusively represented by burnt mounds or components of these.
Prior to the gas pipeline, a small number of excavations had occurred to the north and the northeast of the N6 including the cemetery sites at Knockast (Hencken and Movius 1934; Grogan 2004), Edmondstown (Mount and Hartnett 1993) and Ballybrennan, Barrettstown and Redmondstown (see Waddell 1990). Added to this is the crannog at Coolure, on Lough Derravarragh within the barony of Moycashel, which was the focus of archaeological survey, environmental investigation and artefactual and landscape research (O’Sullivan et al. 2007). The island was first occupied in c. 850 BC, during the late Bronze Age, and several late Bronze Age weapons and ornaments have been recovered nearby in the small bay (ibid.). The gas pipeline excavations have added considerably to our knowledge of the Bronze Age in this region and Grogan et al. (2007, 139) have identified three principal Bronze Age focal zones in – • The valleys of the Brosna and Clodiagh rivers to the south and east of Kilbeggan. • The hilly terrain around the Hill of Uisneach. • The slightly elevated area around Edmondstown to the west of Killucan.
Before the gas pipeline and N6 excavations south Westmeath was considered a ‘quiet’ zone but a much more intensive Bronze Age landscape has emerged possibly related to the major Bronze Age centre at Knockast (ibid., 161). The pipeline revealed a dominance of Bronze Age archaeology mainly dating to the middle and late parts of the period. Settlement, for example, is indicated by the middle Bronze Age house at Knockdomny 3km northwest of Moate town (Hull 2006), and by a number of burnt mounds such as Ballynagarbry, directly to the west of Moate, and at Williamstown (Grogan et al. 2007, 139). The N6 traversed the latter townland and revealed a burnt spread dating to the late Bronze Age.
Important late Bronze Age settlements were uncovered in advance of the N6 including the possible house at Creggan Lower 1 and the house, boundary fences and pits at Tober. When added to the large rectangular late Bronze Age house at Ballinderry crannog II (Newman 1997 has since argued for the presence of a second rectangular Bronze Age structure), identified as a thin black deposit which contained occupational debris and fragments of timbers and brushwoods and which produced many finds, mostly from the house, including pottery, knives, flesh-hooks, awls, rings, pins, beads and a variety of stone objects (Hencken 1942, 6–8), it demonstrates how this was a well-settled and established region notably in the later part of the period. This interpretation is further reinforced by the large number of burnt mounds that were discovered along the N6 and some notable clusters within certain townlands, for example, at Cregganmacar, Burrow or Glennanummer and Kilbeg.
In Athlone, at the western edge of the scheme and close to Creggan Lower, an assortment of high-status Bronze Age artefacts, mainly dating to the middle and late periods, are well represented including, for example, a gold lunula, bronze flat axes and rapiers and later gold items such as bar torcs, penannular bracelets, dress fasteners and ring money (Murtagh 2000, 9). The distribution of further high-status artefacts including the hoards from Ballinderry, Killulagh, Brockagh and Enniscoffey provide further evidence of a well settled Bronze Age landscape in this region (Eogan 1983; Grogan et al. 2007, 161). Both the pipeline and N6 excavations have demonstrated how quickly perceptions and knowledge of archaeological landscapes
5 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2 can change as new sites are revealed in areas previously thought to be mostly devoid of such.
3.2.2 Early Medieval From east to west the N6 passes in proximity to the towns of Kilbeggan, Clara, Moate and Athlone. The name Kilbeggan may have derived from Saint Beccan who was associated with the town in the sixth century AD (McCormack 2006, 5). The site of St Beccan’s monastery occupies the vicinity of the current graveyard and Protestant Church in the town. A later monastery was constructed by the Cistercians, close to Saint Beccan’s site, in AD 1150 (Masterson 2004). Both of these monastic foundations lay in proximity to the River Brosna and it is likely that the town developed from this point. A number of recorded RMP sites testify to early medieval monastic activity in Kilbeggan and include an ecclesiastical site (WM038-017001), graveyard (WM038-017002) and church (WM038-017006). A recent geophysical survey has identified the footprint of the Cistercian monastery and excavations nearby have revealed a large cemetery (possibly of early medieval date) a cereal- drying kiln, pits and ditches (Hayden 2003; Sweetman 2004).
A number of enclosure sites (OF008-006) and possible enclosures (OF008-005 & OF008-014) are recorded within the small town of Clara, Co. Offaly; some of which may represent early medieval ringforts. Excavations at Ballicknahee, near Clara, revealed at least 17 extended inhumation burials of possible early medieval date (Murphy 1998).
The nearest recorded early medieval monument at Moate, Co. Westmeath is a ringfort to the west at Tullaghnageeragh (WM030-108), however the sites in closest proximity are castles dating to the later medieval period. A significant excavation, c. 11km to the ENE of Moate, at Gneevebeg uncovered an enclosed cemetery of probable early medieval date in addition to cereal-drying kilns, a ballaun stone and a number of pits and ditches (Wallace 2002).
The largest of the towns along the N6, Athlone, is situated on the banks of the River Shannon in Co. Westmeath. By the ninth century AD the territory to the immediate west of Athlone was occupied by the Delbna Nuadat and the region to the east was inhabited by a vassal tribe of the southern Uí Néill called the Bregmine who gave title to the barony of Brawny (Murtagh 2000, 9). Archaeological evidence in the form of five decorated grave slabs, dating between the middle eighth to tenth centuries, indicates that an unrecorded ecclesiastical site was situated in Athlone at this time (Murtagh 2000, 11). Little is known about the development of Athlone west of the Shannon but the surviving castle, probably constructed in the 13th century, was possibly built on the site where the castle of the Uí Conchobhair stood in the early 12th century (Sullivan 1997); although the precise location of the castle is unknown (Murtagh 2000, 13). Recent excavations in Athlone have failed to locate any trace of early medieval activity; instead they have revealed later activity dating mainly to the late middle ages and post medieval period.
The north midlands, through which the N6 traverses, is described by Stout (1997, 77) as having a high-density of ringforts. Research undertaken to study the regional distribution of ringforts in the barony of Kilcoursey, Co. Offaly has revealed a high density of ringforts in the area with 0.41 per km squared (Stout 1998, 33). Kilcoursey is the smallest barony in Offaly and the only one in the county to be impacted upon by the N6.
Crannógs also feature significantly in this region and include those excavated by Hugh Hencken during the 1930s at Ballinderry I, Co. Westmeath (Hencken 1936)
Irish Archaeological Consultancy 6 N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2 and Ballinderry II, Co. Offaly (Hencken 1942). The former crannóg is located in the barony of Clonlonan and the latter in the barony of Kilcoursey. Recently, the excavated evidence from both crannógs has been reinterpreted by Ruth Johnson (1999) at Ballinderry I and Conor Newman (2002) at Ballinderry II. A more recent excavation of a crannóg was undertaken at Newtownlow, in the barony of Moycashel a short distance to the northeast of Kilbeggan (Burke 1984, 1985). At Coolure, on Lough Derravaragh also within the barony of Moycashel, a crannóg was the focus of a recent archaeological survey, environmental investigation and artefactual and landscape research (O’Sullivan et al 2007). Historically, the impact of the Vikings in the region and specifically on Lough Ree is well summarised by Alfred Smyth (1979, 246–53). Ballaghkeeran Little, in the barony of Clonlonan, has been suggested as the location of a possible longphort site (Fanning 1983).
Excavations of ecclesiastical sites are rare in the archaeological record but a monastic enclosure was partially excavated at Clonfad, close to Lough Ennel, Co. Westmeath (Stevens 2006, 8–11). The findings revealed that a variety of industrial and craft activities occurred on the site including extensive evidence for ironworking and non-ferrous metalworking, notably the production of handbells, and bone working. Another ecclesiastical site excavated at Kilpatrick, located in the most northern barony of Westmeath in Fore, also revealed evidence for bone, antler and ironworking (Swan 1976, 89–96; 1994/95, 1–21).
3.3 Archaeological Typology Background (Metalworking Furnaces) Excavations at Tonaphort 2 revealed a burnt pit or possible bowl furnace. This pit, C5, measured 0.49m long by 0.36m wide and 0.15m deep. It contained evidence for in situ burning and had a high charcoal content in its primary fill. It was an isolated feature and no finds were recovered.
Furnaces, used for the smelting of ores into an iron bloom prior to the smithing stages, survive in the archaeological record as small shallow heat-scorched pits, usually oval or hemispherical in shape, containing fills of iron slag, charcoal and, in many cases, oxidised clay. Dense blocks of slag commonly form at the bottom of the furnace which have been termed plano-convex or ‘furnace-bottoms’ (Scott 1990, 155–6). A total of 30 furnaces – with approximate diameters of between 0.40m and 0.70m and depths not exceeding 0.20m – were identified in advance of the M4 road scheme and survived as bowl-shaped pits, with heat-reddened sides and bases, which contained slag and, in many examples, vitrified clay fragments (Carlin et al 2008a, 94). A recent summary of furnaces associated with raths has revealed similar morphological characteristics and deposits whereby they were all heat-scorched small pits containing charcoal, slag and burnt clay in many instances (Comber 2008, 115–7).
Much of the technology associated with the primary stages of iron production such as charcoal production kilns, furnaces and smithing hearths, during the bloom smithing process, were located close to natural resources such as wood and bogland. This is not surprising because oak was the preferred fuel for charcoal production as it is denser and burns for longer than softer woods (Raftery 1994, 148; Tylecote 1962), while bog ore was more readily available and required less work to extract compared to mining and was also a regularly renewable resource (Mytum 1992, 230). The primary stages of ironworking generally took place away from dwellings due to the dangers associated with the production, such as the risk of fire and the toxic nature of the process. The results from recent excavations, such as along the M4 (Carlin et al 2008a) and the M7/M8 (Kenny 2007) testify to this as the majority of furnaces were located in marginal places, availing of the limited drier and sloping ground, close to bog and woodland and away from settlements. However, furnaces do occur within
7 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2 enclosed early medieval settlements in some instances, such as Killickaweeny, Co. Kildare (Walsh 2008), and it appears that iron smelting was practised sometimes within enclosures, possibly in controlled safe environments away from the dwellings.
The ironworking processes remained largely static until the 17th century so the features that survive archaeologically today appear similar in form even though they span the centuries between late prehistory and the later middle-ages. Diagnostic artefacts are also mainly absent so radiocarbon dating is vital for determining the age of various metallurgical features, including smelting furnaces. Radiocarbon-dated examples of furnaces from the M4 show that, despite their morphological similarities, they were in use from the beginnings of the fifth century BC until the late medieval period with the majority dating to the early middle ages (Carlin et al 2008a, 104). A number of possible furnaces along the M7/M8 (specialist metallurgical reports are awaited) have also produced dates spanning the middle Iron Age through to the later medieval period (Kenny 2007).
Debates have recently focused on the arguments for (Carlin et al 2008a; Crew and Rehren 2002, 96; Mytum 1992, 231) and against (Pleiner 2000; Scott 1990; Raftery 1994, 148) the existence of the low-shaft furnace in Ireland with the former mainly arguing that the low-shaft furnace, in contemporary use in Britain, was more efficient than the bowl furnace. This view was based, to a large extent, on the experimental work on bowl furnaces by O’Kelly (1961) and later by Tylecote (1986). Bowl furnaces consisted of pits containing charcoal, positioned close to the air hole, and ore that were sometimes clay-lined and may have had a low dome-shaped clay roof (Scott 1990, 159). Low-shaft furnaces differed in that they were clay-lined and clay sides were constructed above ground into the shape of a conical or a cylindrical-shaped chimney (Carlin et al 2008a, 92). They also differed to the bowl furnace because the charcoal and ore were placed in alternating layers (Mytum 1992, 231). Archaeologically, however, it is difficult to distinguish between the two because both survive as heat-scorched pits containing charcoal and slag deposits and, in many cases, vitrified clay fragments. The presence of the latter cannot be used as evidence for the existence of the low-shaft furnace because bowl furnaces may also have been clay-lined or roofed by a clay dome. Regardless of the existence, or not, of the low-shaft furnace, the large number of furnaces found in excavations across the country demonstrate that iron smelting was an integral part of the iron production process and it usually occurred in marginal places, in proximity to raw materials, and away from settlements where the final process – iron forging – was frequently practised.
3.4 Discussion
3.4.1 Phase 1: Natural Drift Geology This phase represents the natural subsoil, which was cut or sealed by all subsequent archaeological features. For the purposes of recording on-site this phase of activity was allocated the context number C2. The subsoil (C2) above bedrock encountered at Tonaphort 2 was uniform across the site and consisted of compact, yellow clay with stone and gravel inclusions.
3.4.2 Phase 2: Archaeological Activity This phase represents a small burnt pit or possible bowl furnace. It was an isolated feature and no finds were recovered during the excavation. While there is little evidence to suggest the exact function of the pit, it is possible that it was related to either of the nearby sites: Tonaphort 1, positioned 100m to west; and Tonaphort 3, 50m to the east (Figure 2). Tonaphort 1 comprised of a burnt spread, trough and pits and returned dates from the early Bronze Age and middle Bronze Age (Coughlan,
Irish Archaeological Consultancy 8 N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
2009b). Tonaphort 3 consisted of a charcoal production kiln dated to the early medieval period and two cereal drying kilns one of which was dated to the medieval period (Coughlan, 2009a). Kilbeggan would have been a significant focal point within the landscape since early medieval times and the surrounding countryside would have been used to provide for the basic needs of the community including fuel and food. As the date of Tonaphort 2 is unknown, it is possible that the site was related to either of these periods of activity.
3.4.3 Phase 3: Topsoil This phase represents the topsoil that sealed all of the archaeological deposits and features on site.
9 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
4 CONCLUSIONS
Tonaphort 1 comprised of a single pit that contained evidence of in situ burning. It is possible that this pit was a bowl furnace, but nothing to indicate a date was recovered from the fills.
The site was located in an area that is rich in archaeology including a Bronze Age burnt mound at nearby Tonaphort 1 and an early medieval charcoal production kiln and two late medieval cereal-drying kilns at Tonaphort 3. While the exact function and date of Tonaphort 2 are unknown, it is possible that it is related to one or other of these nearby sites placing it within a Bronze Age or early medieval – medieval context.
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5 BIBLIOGRAPHY
5.1 References
Bourke, C 1984 ‘Newtownlow’, Medieval Archaeology 28, 258.
Bourke, C 1985 ‘Newtownlow’, Medieval Archaeology 29, 219.
Carlin, N with contributions by Ginn, V and Kinsella, J 2008 Ironworking and production: an evaluation and assessment of the metallurgical evidence. In N Carlin, L Clarke and F Walsh, The Archaeology of Life and Death on the Boyne Floodplain: The Linear Landscape of the M4, 87–112, National Roads Authority, Wordwell, Dublin.
Comber, M 2008 The Economy of the Ringfort and Contemporary Settlement in Early Medieval Ireland. BAR International Series 1773. Archaeopress, Oxford.
Coughlan, T 2009a Final report for Site A016/081 Tonaphort 3. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Coughlan, T 2009b Final report for Site A016/079 Tonaphort 1. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Crew, P & Rehren, T 2002 ‘Appendix 1: High-temperature workshop residues from Tara: iron, bronze and glass’, Roche, H Excavations at Raith na Rig, Tara Co. Meath 1997, Discovery Programme Reports, 6, 83–102, Royal Irish Academy/Discovery Programme, Dublin.
DAHGI (1999a) Framework & Principles for the Protection of Archaeological Heritage. Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Eogan, G 1983 Hoards of the Irish Late Bronze Age. University College, Dublin.
Fanning, T 1983 ‘Ballaghkeeran Little, Co. Westmeath, possible Viking longphort’, Medieval Archaeology 27, 221.
Grogan, E 2004 Middle Bronze Age burial traditions in Ireland. In H. Roche, E. Grogan, J. Bradley, J. Coles and B. Raftery (eds), From Megaliths to Metals: Essays in Honour of George Eogan, 61–71. Oxford, Oxbow.
Grogan, E, O’Donnell, L and Johnston, P 2007 The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Bray, Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd and Wordwell.
Hencken, H 1936 ‘Ballinderry crannog No. 1’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 43C, 103–239.
Hencken, H 1942 ‘Ballinderry crannog No. 2’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 47C, 1–76.
Hull, G 2006 Excavation of a Bronze Age round-house at Knockdomny, Co. Westmeath, Journal of Irish Archaeology 15, 1–14.
IAC Ltd. 2005 N6 Kinnegad-Athlone Scheme Phase 2: Kilbeggan to Athlone Dual Carriageway: Archaeological Assessment. Unpublished report.
11 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme: Phase 2, Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Johnson, R 1999 ‘Ballinderry crannog No. 1: A reinterpretation’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 99C, 23–71.
Kenny, N 2007 On the Recent Archaeological Discoveries in the Townlands of Derryvorrigan and Derrinsallagh: Iron Production and Ironworking in the Iron Age and Beyond. Unpublished report prepared for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
McCormack, S 2006 Kilbeggan Past and Present. Kilbeggan, Stan McCormack.
Masterson, R 2004 ‘The Cistercian Abbey of Kilbeggan: 1150–1540’, Journal of the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society 2, 24–30.
Mount, C and Hartnett, P J 1993 Early Bronze Age cemetery at Edmondstown, Co. Dublin, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 93C, 21–79.
Murtagh, H 2000 Athlone History and Settlement to 1800. Old Athlone Society, Athlone.
Mytum, H 1992 The Origins of Early Christian Ireland. Routledge, London.
Newman, C 1997 ‘Ballinderry crannóg No. 2, Co. Offaly: the later Bronze Age’, Journal of Irish Archaeology 8, 91–100.
Newman, C 2002 ‘Ballinderry crannog No. 2, Co. Offaly: Pre-crannog early medieval horizon’, Journal of Irish Archaeology 11, 99–123.
O’Brien, C and Sweetman, D 1997 Archaeological Inventory of Co. Offaly. Dublin, The Stationary Office.
O’Kelly, M J 1961 ‘The ancient method of smelting iron’, Internat. Kongress fuer Von u. Fruegeschichte, 459–91, Hamburg, Universitatsbibliothek Basel.
O’Sullivan, A Sands, R and Kelly, E P 2007 Coolure Demesne Crannog, Lough Derravaragh: An Introduction to its Archaeology and Landscapes. Wordwell, Dublin.
Pleiner, R 2000 Iron in Archaeology: The European Bloomery Smelters. Prague, Archaeologicky USTAV AV CR.
Raftery, B 1994 Pagan Celtic Ireland: The Enigma of the Irish Iron Age. Thames and Hudson, London.
Riada Consult, Westmeath County Council 2003 N6 Kinnegad to Athlone Dual Carriageway Environmental Impact Statement.
Scott, B G 1990 Early Irish Ironworking. The Ulster Museum, Belfast.
Smyth, A P 1979 Scandinavian York and Dublin: The History and Archaeology of Two Related Viking Kingdoms. Tudor House, Dublin.
Stevens, P 2006 ‘A monastic enclosure site at Clonfad, Co. Westmeath’, Archaeology Ireland 20 (2), 8–11.
Stout, M 1997 The Irish Ringfort. Four Courts Press, Dublin.
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Stout, M 1998 ‘Early Christian Settlement, Society and Economy in Offaly’, W Nolan and TP O’Neill (eds) Offaly: History & Society: Interdisciplinary Essays on the History of an Irish County, 29–92. Geography Publications, Dublin.
Swan, D L 1976 ‘Excavations at Kilpatrick, Killucan, Co. Westmeath: 1973 and 1975’, Ríocht na Midhe 6, 89–96.
Swan, D L 1994/95 ‘Evidence for bone, antler and iron working’, Ríocht na Midhe, 9, 1–21.
Tylecote, R F 1986 The Prehistory of Metallurgy in the British Isles. Institute of Metals, London.
Waddell, J 1990 The Bronze Age Burials of Ireland. Galway, Galway University Press.
Walsh, F 2008 Killickaweeny 1: high-class early medieval living. In N Carlin, L Clarke and F Walsh, The Archaeology of Life and Death on the Boyne Floodplain: The Linear Landscape of the M4, 27–54. National Roads Authority, Wordwell, Dublin.
5.2 Other Sources Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place Upper, Dublin 2.
Topographical Files of the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Cartographic References Ordnance Survey Map, scale 1:10560, 1842 Ordnance Survey Map, scale 1:2500, 1887–1913
Electronic Resources Hayden, A 2003 Site 1, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath. http://excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Westmeath&id=10802
Moloney, A and McDermott, C 1992 Ballynahownwood, Co. Westmeath, paved way. http://excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Westmeath&id=3158
Murphy, D 1998 Ballicknahee, Co. Offaly, cemetery. http://excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Offaly&id=1470
Sullivan, E 1997 The Quay, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, urban medieval. http://excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Westmeath&id=4094
Sweetman, D 2004 Old Relic Road, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath. http://excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Westmeath&id=12667
Wallace, A 2002 Gneevebeg, Co. Westmeath, multi-period. http://excavations.ie/pages/details.php?year=&county=westmeath&id=9209
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PLATES
Plate 1: E3279: C5, pre-excavation, facing west
Plate 2: E3279: C5, post-excavation, facing west
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15 Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
APPENDIX 1 CATALOGUE OF PRIMARY DATA
Appendix 1.1 Context Register
Context Fill of L(m) W(m) D(m) Interpretation Description Finds 1 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 Topsoil Loose, dark brown silt with stone and pebble inclusions. None 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A Subsoil Compact, yellow clay with stone and gravel inclusions. N/A 3 C5 0.46 0.36 0.03 Upper fill of C5 Irregular, loose, grey-brown, chunky, clay, charcoal inclusions. None 4 C5 0.49 0.36 0.13 Lower fill of C5 Irregular-round, hard, black with flecks of red and yellow clay and ash. None Irregular oval, NW–SE, sharp break of slope top, irregular slopes, gradual break of slope bottom, 5 N/A 0.49 0.36 0.15 Cut of burnt pit/bowl furnace N/A irregular rounded base.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy i N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Appendix 1.2 Catalogue of Artefacts
There were no artefacts recovered from this site.
ii Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Appendix 1.3 Catalogue of Ecofacts
A single soil sample was taken at Tonaphort 2 and was processed by flotation. There was no charcoal or other ecofacts recovered from this process.
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Appendix 1.4 Archive Checklist
Project: N6 Kilbeggan – Athlone Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd Site Name: Tonaphort 2 NMS Reg. No.: E3279 Ministerial Direction No.: A016/080 Site Director: Tim Coughlan
Date: 21 November 2008 Field Records Items (quantity) Comments Site drawings (plans) 2 Digitised Site sections, profiles, elevations 1 Digitised Other plans, sketches, etc. 0 Timber drawings 0 Stone structural drawings 0
Site diary/note books 0 Site registers (folders) 1 Digitised
Survey/levels data (origin information) 15
Context sheets 5 Digitised Wood Sheets 0 Skeleton Sheets 0 Worked stone sheets 0
Digital photographs 3 On IAC Server Photographs (print) 0 Photographs (slide) 0
Finds and Environ. Archive Flint/chert 0 Stone artefacts 0 Pottery (specify periods/typology) 0 Ceramic Building Material (specify types e.g. daub, 0 tile) Metal artefacts (specify types - bronze, iron) 0 Glass 0 Other find types or special finds (specify) 0
Human bone (specify type e.g. cremated, skeleton, 0 disarticulated) Animal bone 0 Metallurgical waste 0 Enviro bulk soil (specify no. of samples) 1 Enviro monolith (specify number of samples and 0 number of tins per sample)
Security copy of archive 1 On IAC Server
iv Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Appendix 1.5 Copy of Registration No. Document from DoEHLG
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Appendix 1.6 Copy of Ministerial Direction Document
vi Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
APPENDIX 2 LIST OF RMP SITES IN AREA
RMP No Description WM037-010 Cist WM038-016 Ringfort (Rath/Cashel) WM038-01701 Kilbeggan Town WM038-01702 Graveyard WM038-018 Castle Site WM038-028 Ringfort (Rath/Cashel)
See Figure 2 for location.
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APPENDIX 3 LIST OF N6 SCHEME SITE NAMES
Site Name Ministerial Direction No. NMS Registration Number Seeoge 2 A016/007 E2635 Moyally 7 A016/015 E2643 Kilcurley 1 A016/019 E2647 Cappydonnell Big 1 A016/025 E2653 Ardballymore 2 A016/028 E2656 Creggan lower 1 A016/030 E2658 Creggan lower 2 A016/031 E2659 Williamstown 1 A016/032 E2660 Williamstown 3 A016/033 E2661 Williamstown 4 A016/034 E2662 Boyanaghcalry 1 A016/035 E2663 Seeoge 1 A016/036 E2664 Aghafin 1 A016/037 E2665 Cregganmacar 1 A016/038 E2666 Cregganmacar 2 A016/039 E2667 Cregganmacar 3 A016/040 E2668 Curries 1 A016/041 E2669 Curries 2 A016/042 E2670 Culleenagower 1 A016/043 E2671 Moyally 2 A016/044 E2672 Moyally 1 A016/046 E3274 Moyally 3 A016/047 E2674 Moyally 5 A016/048 E2675 Moyally 6 A016/049 E2676 Tober 1 A016/051 E2677 Burrow or Glennanummer 1 A016/052 E2678 Burrow or Glennanummer 2 A016/053 E2679 Burrow or Glennanummer 3 A016/054 E2680 Russagh 4 A016/055 E2681 Russagh 1 A016/056 E2682 Russagh 2 A016/057 E2683 Russagh 3 A016/058 E2684 Kilbeg 1 A016/059 E2688 Kilbeg 2 A016/060 E2689 Kilbeg 4 A016/062 E2691 Kilbeg 5 A016/063 E2692 Kilbeg 6 A016/064 E2693 Kilbeg 7 A016/065 E2694 Correagh 1 A016/066 E3374 Ballinderry Little 1 A016/067 E2695 Ardballymore 1 A016/068 E2696 Kilgaroan 1 A016/069 E2697 Kilgaroan 2 A016/070 E2698 Kilgaroan 3 A016/071 E2699 Kilgaroan 4 A016/072 E2700 Kilgaroan 6 A016/074 E2702 Ballinderry Big 1 A016/076 E3275 Ballinderry Big 2 A016/077 E3276 Ballinderry Big 3 A016/078 E3277 Tonaphort 1 A016/079 E3278 Tonaphort 2 A016/080 E3279 Tonaphort 3 A016/081 E3280
viii Irish Archaeological Consultancy N6 Kinnegad–Athlone Road Scheme, Phase 2: Kilbeggan–Athlone Dual Carriageway Tonaphort 2
Site Name Ministerial Direction No. NMS Registration Number Kilbeggan South 1 A016/082 E3281 Kilbeggan South 2 A016/083 E3282 Kilbeggan South 3 A016/084 E3283 Cregganmacar 4 A016/085 E2703 Williamstown 2 A016/086 E2704 Kilbeg 8 A016/087 E3966
Irish Archaeological Consultancy ix
PHA SE 3: TOPSOIL C1
C3
PHA SE 2: A RCHA EOLOGICA L A CTIV ITY C4 Pit
C5
PHA SE 1: NA TURA L DRIFT GEOLOGY C2
CXXX = SPREADS AND FILL CONTEXTS CXXX = CUT CONTEXTS