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The Department of Archaeology, UCC ihas announced the publication
of a major research project carried out in collaboration with
the National Roads Authority.
Titled - 'Archaeological Excavations at Tullahedy, Co.
Limerick: Neolithic Settlement in North Munster' - its
authors are Rose M. Cleary and Hilary Kelleher. It is published
by Collins Press.
This book details the results of an archaeological investigation
in 2006-7, carried out by UCC, in advance of construction
of the M7 Nenagh bypass. The project uncovered evidence of
a large Neolithic settlement in Tullahedy townland, sited
on an esker ridge 5km to the south of Lough Derg.
The excavation work was funded by the NRA as part of their
ongoing commitment to the discovery and recording of archaeological
heritage on Irish road schemes. This book marks the first
time the NRA has collaborated with a University in Ireland
in the publication of a major research excavation.
Professor William O’Brien explains - “The main portion of
the Tullahedy site was an enclosed Neolithic settlement occupied
by farmers in the period 3700–3400 BC. The original location
was a promontory surrounded by a lake on two sides, with the
landward approach protected by an oak palisade. The surviving
evidence of Neolithic habitation includes the remains of three
rectangular houses built using split oak planks, with adjacent
hearths and deposits of food waste connected to farming.
"A large number of pits were discovered in the site.
These contained charred cereal remains and animal bone fragments,
as well as quantities of broken pottery, polished stone axeheads
and flaked stone tools such as arrowheads and scrapers.
"This large Neolithic settlement enclosure is almost
unique in Ireland and provides important information on early
farming societies in north Munster during the fourth millennium
BC.”
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