Tipperary Hist J

Reports on mines in Tipperary and surrounding area, other than the Silvermines. No definite evidence of the discovery or initial workings exists. The earliest (medieval) recording of the lead, copper, and silver workings at Oola is traced up to the nineteenth century. Hollyford and Lackamore copper mines are recorded from post-medieval to twentieth century.

Details documentation relating to the history of this Augustinian priory, founded in all probability at the end of the twelfth century and known today as Cahir Abbey.

Aerial survey, contributing to Tipperary SMR, revealed a complex of possibly LBA enclosures, mounds, ring ditches and field systems near Emly in the south west of the county.

An initial statement regarding three areas excavated as part of ongoing conservation work at the site. Four phases of burial and two churches pre-dating the cathedral were discovered. Eight phases of activity were isolated, beginning with pre-church stakeholes and a single burial -- possibly dating to the sixth--ninth centuries, and followed by the wooden church circa ninth--tenth century. The first stone church appears in the early-twelfth century and the graveyard extended further to the south at this time. The mid-twelfth to mid-thirteenth century saw the construction and early use of Cormac's Chapel and continuing expansion of the burial area. The fifth phase saw construction of the cathedral, the shrine at the north door of the chapel, all in the period c~1250--1650. Further work on the chapel and the demise of useful activity in the graveyard during the mid-seventeenth century were followed by use of the interior of the chapel for burial, and finally modern disturbance was seen post-1800.

Details a survey covering areas of Co Limerick and Co Tipperary at 1:10,000, with frames taken at 60% overlap and viewed through a stereoscope for enhanced definition. The resulting pictures revealed several hundred new sites including BA/LBA ring barrows and burial sites that were undetectable at larger scale. Based on the survey, enclosures at Baggotstown (Limerick), Lattin, Ballyrobbin, and Chancellorsland (Tipperary) were targeted for further fieldwork. The latter has revealed two habitation sites associated with four ring barrows. Further work to establish the chronological relationship between funerary and domestic areas is expected.

Following an earlier article (see also 96/572), interpretations of the reported medieval building are amended in the light of further work.

Renovation work in 1993 at the `Old School' -- a former nineteenth-century church on the site of an earlier thatched church -- revealed the fragmented remains of three horse skulls buried approximately 1m under the floor towards the eastern end of the building. There is discussion of historical evidence for this ritual -- seen as a continuation of a more ancient practice.

Details the town's development from its first recording in 1242, and the fourteenth-century walled town, known as Carrickmagriffin. Changes in the mid-fifteenth century, giving rise to the second walled town, and developments to the twentieth century are described, whilst documentary evidence and structural remains are used to detail the buildings.

Illustrative evidence of the existence of two apparently BA penannular ring form objects, found near Tipperary in 1840, is investigated. British Museum acquisition records for that year proved helpful, although only one of the objects remains.

Reports the discovery in 1984 of a fragment of carved stone bearing part of a coat-of-arms with seventeenth-century date. It is thought that the stone may commemorate the White family, and the presence of the initial `D' further narrows the field. Other White family coats-of-arms found in Clonmel are also noted. In addition, a long, rectangular, medieval structure tentatively interpreted as an urban dwelling is detailed.

Reports a collection of bones resulting from food waste. The majority are cattle and sheep, with some pig, and a substantial amount of shellfish and fish bones.

Records the remains of a stone tower house, in a poor state of preservation and situated in the centre of a circular earthwork. There is some speculation as to whether the site represents the direct re-use of an earlier ringfort, or results from the earlier adaptation of same to form a Norman motte. Further investigation to establish its true nature is called for.

Describes and discusses the two silver arm-rings from the Rathmooley hoard, deeming one to be of Scandinavian origin and the other of Hiberno-Norse origin. Other Viking Age silver finds from the county are also described and the rod-arm-rings dated by association to the ninth or tenth century. Earlier examples are provenanced to Norway, with later examples coming more frequently from other Scandinavian countries, prompting speculation that the crafting of this style originated in Norway and later spread throughout the Viking world.

Reports discoveries during land reclamation work in 1989. There was evidence of a cist burial, fulacht fiadh, cairns, and pre-bog field boundaries. There is no dating evidence other than the association of the probably BA fulacht fiadh and the knowledge that the cairns and boundaries were in existence prior to the growth of peat on the hill.

Funerary evidence is analysed as an indicator of developments/changes in ritual practice and the site is compared with another at Millin Bay. It is thought that the presence of megalithic and multiple cist/burial traditions indicates a shift from communal deposits within a monumental structure to predominantly individual cremation deposits, but no fixed sequential chronology is postulated.

Details five previously unrecorded sheela-na-gigs from: Tullaroan; Rosenallis; Killascully; and Cashel.

Brief note on evidence from a 1993 test-pit. Heavy organic silt butchered bone, leather, twigs and sphagnum, with an absence of datable finds, are suggestive of a late medieval or early post-medieval midden to the rear of Mary Street.