Archaeological Excavation Report Reveals Early Medieval Kilns and Medieval Moated Site in Offaly

Eachtra Journal

Issue 13 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report
E3661 - Busherstown, Co. Offaly
Early medieval kilns and medieval moated site with associated annexe

EACHTRA
Archaeological Projects

Busherstown
Co. Offaly

Early medieval kilns and medieval moated site with
associated annexe.

Date: February 2012

Client: Laois County Council and National
Roads Authority
Project: N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1)
E No: E3661

Excavation Director: Tori McMorran
Written by: Ewelina Chrobak, Jacinta Kiely and Tori McMorran

Busherstown
Co. Offaly

Excavation Director

Tori McMorran

Written By

Ewelina Chrobak, Jacinta Kiely and Tori McMorran

EACHTRA
Archaeological Projects

CORK GALWAY
The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway
tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: info@eachtra.ie tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: galway@eachtra.ie

© Eachtra Archaeological Projects 2012
The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork

Set in 12pt Garamond
Printed in Ireland

Table of Contents
Summary�� vii
Acknowledgements��viii
1 Scope of the project �� 1
2 Route location�� 1
3 Receiving environment �� 3
4 Archaeological and historical background �� 4
Mesolithic(c�8000to4000BC)�� 4
Neolithic(c�4000to2000BC)�� 4
�
BronzeAge(c�2000to600BC)�� 4
IronAge(c�500BCtoAD500)�� 5
Earlymedievalperiod(c�AD400to1100)�� 5
Highandlatermedievalperiods(c�AD1100to1650)�� 7
Post-medievalperiod(c�1650tothepresent)�� 7
�
5 Site location and Topography �� 7
6 Archaeological and Historical Setting �� 10
7 Excavation methodology �� 11
8 Excavation results �� 15
Phase1Prehistoric��16
Phase2Earlymedievalactivity��18
Phase3High/Latemedieval(firstphase)�� 48
Phase4High/Latemedieval(secondphase)��53
Phase5Moatedsite��55
Phase6Modernactivity��59
9 Specialist Results ��64
Plantremains�� 64
�
Lithicartefacts�� 64
Metalartefacts��65
Animalbone��65
�
Humanremains��65
Archaeometallurgy�� 66
Geophysical�� 66
Quernstones�� 66
Charcoal�� 66

i

Radiocarbondates�� 66
10 Conclusion ��68
NeolithicandBronzeAgeactivity�� 68
Earlymedievalactivity��69
Earlymedievalenclosure��70
Highmedievalperiod��72
Moatedsite��73
11 References �� 76
Appendix 1 Stratigraphic Index �� 79
Appendix 2 Site Matrix ��80
Appendix 3 Groups and Subgroups �� 87
Appendix 4 Plant Remains ��154
Appendix 5 Lithics Finds Report ��172
Appendix 6 Metal Artefacts ��179
Appendix 7 Animal Bone Report ��182
Appendix 8 Osteological report ��194
Appendix 9 Metallurgy Report ��201
Appendix 10 Geophysical Report �� 204
Appendix 11 Quernstone Report �� 219

ii

List of Figures
Figure 1: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance Survey
Discovery Series map� �� 2
�
Figure 2: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance Survey
Discovery Series map with all the excavation sites marked� �� 6
Figure 3: Portion of the Ist edition Ordnance Survey Map OF47 showing the location of
Busherstown� �� 8
Figure 4: Topography of the area around Busherstown� �� 9
Figure 5: Location and extent of Busherstown E3661 on the N7 Castletown to Nenagh�
Note the location of the stream� �� 12
�
Figure 6: Post excavation plan of Busherstown� �� 14
Figure 7: Post-excavation plan of Structure A at Busherstown� �� 16
Figure 8: Post-excavation plan of ditches C�447 and C�68 at Busherstown�� 17
Figure 9: Section plans of ditches C�68, C�63, C�447 and C�78/127 at Busherstown� �� 19
Figure 10: Post-excavation plan of kilns, location of firing bowl of kilns illustrated, at
Busherstown� ��21
Figure 11: Section plan of kilns C�97 and C�74 at Busherstown� ��27
Figure 12: Plan of kilns C�90 and C�97 and associated shelter belt at Busherstown� ��29
Figure 13: Post-excavation plan of kilns located in the northern part of the site at Busherstown� 30
Figure 14: Section plan of kiln C�355 and pit C�1043 at Busherstown� ��40
Figure 15: Post-excavation plan of Buildings C and D within moated site at Busherstown� ��40
Figure 16: Post-excavation plan of Structures E and F at Busherstown� ��46
Figure 17: Section plans of ditches C�246/C�273 and C�277 and ditches C�54 and C�277 at
Figure 18: Post-excavation plan of the medieval enclosure and moated site at Busherstown� ��52
Figure 19: Post-excavation plan of the moated site at Busherstown� ��54
Figure 20: Section plans of the ditch C�44 of the moated site� ��57
Figure 21: Section plan of ditch C�8 and C�19 at Busherstown� ��58
Figure 22: Plan of geophysical testing at Busherstown (Earthsound)� ��60
Figure 23: Aerial photography of Busherstown showing the extent of moated site in the
adjoining field outside the road corridor� �� 61

iii

List of Plates
Plate 1: View of Busherstown from north� �� 13
Plate 2: Flint scraper E3661:1:5 from Busherstown� �� 15
Plate 3: Building A from south-west at Busherstown� �� 18
Plate 4: Quern stone E3661:71:1 from Busherstown� ��20
Plate 5: Kiln C�74 (in foreground) and kiln C�30 from NW at Busherstown� ��23
Plate 6: Kiln C�74 from NE at Busherstown� ��24
�
Plate 7: Mid-excavation view of kiln C�97 in foreground and kiln C�90 in background at
Plate 8: Stone lining in kiln C�90 from east at Busherstown� ��33
Plate 9: Bone pin E3661:735:1 from Busherstown� ��34
Plate 10: Mid-excavation view of kiln C�872 at Busherstown� ��36
Plate 11: Kiln 989 in ditch C�54 at Busherstown� ��37
Plate 12: View of Building B and kiln C�490 in background from north at Busherstown� ��43
Plate 13: View of interior of moated site and ditch C�44 at Busherstown� ��44
Plate 14: View of Structure E and kilns C�30 and C�74 from north-east at Busherstown� ��47
Plate 15: SE facing section of enclosure ditches C�54, C�277 and C�447 at Busherstown��50
Plate 16: View of mid excavation of ditch C�68 from south, excavated ditches C�54 (in
foreground) and C�78 (in middle ground) and kiln 189��51
Plate 17: Mid-excavation view of ditch C�44 of moated site at Busherstown� ��56
Plate 18: View of south-eastern corner of moated site, Structure D, and ditches C�8 (left)
and C�68 (right) in middle background at Busherstown� ��59
Plate 19: Edward 1 long penny E3661:3:1 from Busherstown� ��62

iv

List of Tables
Table 1 Dimensions and orientation of 17 cereal-drying kilns��24
Table 2 Dimensions and orientation of 7 truncated cereal-drying kilns� ��39
Table 3 Number and date of buildings located at Busherstown ��42
Table 4 Dimensions of the slot trenches associated with Structure D ��44
Table 5 Dimensions of the four large pits ��45
Table 6 Phase of ditches associated with enclosure and annexe of moated site ��48
Table 7 Radiocarbon dates from Busherstown ��67
Table 8: Relative abundance of the main domestic animals ��73

v

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bUShErStown-E3661 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3661-busherstown-co-offaly/

Summary
Archaeological excavation of the site at Busherstown revealed a complex multi-period site
with six phases of activity. In broad outline they confirmed the use of the area from the
Early Neolithic period to the present time. The first period of activity was prehistoric in
date and comprised a small assemblage of lithics and a circular structure (Structure A)
dated on typological grounds to the Bronze Age. The second phase was dated to the early
medieval period, when the area was used for cereal processing, as evidenced by the discov-
ery of at least 17 cereal-drying kilns and a further seven possible kilns. The majority of the
kilns were located in a line that extended for a distance of 80 m in a NW-SE direction.
The firing chambers of the kiln were for the most part located at the NE. A small number
of the kilns were partially enclosed (Structures D and E). The third phase of activity was
defined by an enclosure (ditches C.68 and 447) which was probably contemporary with
the cereal processing. The continuous use of the area of the enclosure in the medieval pe-
riod was confirmed when certain areas of the site were enclosed through the construction
of deep, wide ditches (ditches C.54 and C.63). The ditches (ditches C.227 and C.78) were
re-cut in the later medieval period to function as an annexe to a moated site. A substan-
tial ditch, 5.5 m wide by 1.7 m deep, defined the moated site. Only the southern corner
of the moated site was located within the road corridor. However, the entire outline can
be clearly seen in aerial photographs of the adjoining field to the north-east. Two struc-
tures (C and D) were contemporary with the moated site. The post-medieval period was
represented by a large number of furrows crossing the site and material which had been
dumped into the top fills of the ditches. The site was levelled in the recent past.

Road project name N7 Castletown to Nenagh
Site name Busherstown
E no. E3661
Site director Tory Mc Morran
Townland Busherstown
Parish Castletownely
County Offaly
Barony Clonlisk
OS Map Sheet No. Offaly 47
National Grid Reference 20479 / 181806
Elevation 145 m OD

vii

Acknowledgements
The project was commissioned by Laois County Council and was funded by the Na-
tional Roads Authority under the National Development Plan (2000-2006). The project
archaeologist was Niall Roycroft. Kildare County Council supervised the archaeological
contract with RE staff of Pat Dowling and Colum Fagan. Kildare County Council Sen-
ior Executive Engineer was Joseph Kelly and Kildare County Council Senior Engineer
was John Coppinger. The senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation
manager was Jacinta Kiely. Illustrations are by Maurizio Toscano, photographs by John
Sunderland and Eagle Photography and aerial photography by StudioLab. Specialist anal-
ysis was carried out by Anne Carey, Mary Dillon, Earthsound Geophysics, Jonny Geber,
Penny Johnston, Margaret McCarthy, Órla Scully, Farina Sternke, Tim Young and the
14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast.

viii


1 Scope of the project
Eachtra Archaeological Projects were commissioned by Laois County Council and the
National Roads Authority to undertake archaeological works along 17.1 km (Contact
1) of the 35km N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) national road
scheme (EIS approved in November 2005). The scheme runs from the eastern junction
of the present N7 Nenagh Bypass, North Tipperary a tie in to the M7/M8 Portlaoise-
Castletown scheme to the south of Borris-in-Ossory in County Laois. The scheme is ap-
proximately 191 hectares. Contract 1 comprises the western half of the scheme and runs
from Clashnevin to Castleroan passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county
border regions. The Ministers Direction Number is A38.
It was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-
2006. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority
through Laois County Council as part of the Authority’s commitment to protecting our
cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct ar-
chaeological site investigations within the lands made available for the scheme and to
assess the nature and extent of any new potential archaeological sites uncovered.
Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in 2007
under licence E3371, E3372 and E3375-8 issued by Department of the Environment Her-
itage and Local Government (DoEHLG) in consultation with the National Museum
of Ireland. The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previously
unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeo-
logical potential identified in the EIS.
Phase 2 of the project (resolution) involved the resolution of all archaeological sites
identified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the construction
of the road. This phase of the project was carried out from June 2007 to February 2008
and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. A total
of 27 sites were excavated during this phase of works under separate licences issued by
DoEHLG.
A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of the
project to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work aris-
ing from archaeological works along the route of the new N7 Castletown to Nenagh. It
included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works.

2 Route location
The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road is located in Counties North Tipperary
and Offaly (OF) (Figure 1). The project (Contract 1) involves the construction of c. 17.5
km of the N7 from Clashnevin east of Nenagh to Castleroan south-east of Dunkerrin. It
passes through the townlands of Clashnevin, Derrybane, Newtown, Lissanisky, Killeisk,
Garavally, Derrycarney, Garrynafanna, Gortnadrumman, Kilgorteen, Falleen, Knock-
ane, Clash, Park, Rosdremid (OF), Clynoe (OF), Cullenwaine, Moneygall, Greenhills,

1

182550 198900 215250

2
193300
193300

!
(
Nenagh
iSSUE 13: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237

Derg (Lough)

182950
182950

172600
172600

0 5 10

182550 198900
Kilometres
215250
±
Figure 1: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map�
archaEological Excavation rEport


Drumbaun, Busherstown (OF), Drumroe (OF), Moatquarter, Loughan (OF) and Cas-
tleroan (OF). The townlands are located in the parishes of Ballymackey, Cullenwaine,
Castletownely, Rathnaveoge, Finglas and Dunkerrin and the baronies of Upper Ormond,
Ikerrin and Clonisk,
The route begins at the eastern end of the Nenagh bypass at Clashnevin c. 5 km east
of Nenagh and continues eastward on the northern side of the existing N7 in Co. Tip-
perary. It crosses a number of third class roads to the north of Toomyvara and 0.7 km
east of Clash crossroads crosses the Ollatrim River. It extends into County Offaly directly
east of Park. From here it crosses the R490 0.6 km north of Moneygall. It extends back
in County Tipperary and through the demesne of Greenhills before crossing the existing
N7 at the junction of Greenhills and Drumbaun townlands. It crosses back into County
Offaly and climbs east into Busherstown and Drumroe. It crosses the Keeloge Stream
into Moatquarter in County Tipperary and extends northeast back into County Offaly
through the townlands of Loughan and Castleroan 1.4 km southwest of Dunkerrin.

3 Receiving environment
North Tipperary is bounded on the west by the River Shannon and Lough Derg with
the Silvermines, to the south, and small hills extending towards Devilsbit and Borrisnoe
Mountains to the east. The mountains are composed largely of Silurian strata and Old
Red Sandstone. Copper, silver and lead deposits have been mined in the Silvermines. The
geology of the lowlands consists of Carboniferous limestone covered by glacial drift in
addition to tracts of raised bog.
The western portion of the study area is drained by the Ollatrim River which flows
westwards into the River Ballintotty which in turns drains into the River Nenagh. The
eastern portion is drained by the Keeloge Stream and other small water sources. These rise
in the foothills of the Silvermine Mountains and flow north. The Keeloge drains into the
Little Brosna River c. 1 km south of Shinrone, Co Offaly. The Brosna turns north and
drains into the Shannon south of Banagher.
The largest population centre in the area is Nenagh. The smaller population centres,
are Toomyvara, Moneygall and Dunkerrin.
The soils on the route are characterised by 80% grey brown podzolics, 10% gleys, 5%
brown earths and 5% basis peat. They are derived from glacial till of predominantly Car-
boniferous limestone composition. These soils occur in Tipperary and Offaly and have a
wide use range being suitable for both tillage and pasture (Gardiner and Radford 1980,
97-99). Land use along the route was a mix of grassland devoted to intensive dairying and
cattle-rearing and tillage.

3


4 Archaeological and historical background
Archaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the new road
(Figure 2). The periods are referred to as follows: Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC), Neo-
lithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600 BC), and Iron Age (c. 500 BC
to AD 500), early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to
1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 to the present).

Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)
The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c.
8000 BC - 4000 BC). The majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Mesolithic occupa-
tion has come from the river valleys. No evidence for the Mesolithic was recorded on the
route.

Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)
The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the begin-
nings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became more
sedentary in nature. The most important Neolithic site in the vicinity was at Tullahedy
recorded on the route of the Nenagh by-pass. It was a specialist chert arrow manufactur-
ing site.
No evidence for a Neolithic site was recorded on the route but stone tools dating to
the Neolithic were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Clash E3660, Cullenwaine E3741
and Greenhills 2 and 3 E3637 and E3658. Stone tools dating to the late Neolithic/Early
Bronze Age were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Castleroan E3909, Cullenwaine E3741,
Derrybane 1 E3585, Drumroe E3773, Greenhills 1 E3638 and Moatquarter E3910. Neo-
lithic pottery was recorded at Cullenwaine E3741 and Drumbaun E3912.

Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600BC)
The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase in
settlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold items
manufactured. The range of burial site types includes cist graves, pit and urn burials,
cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and stand-
ing stones also date to the Bronze Age. Both enclosed and unenclosed settlement sites are
known. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh. These monuments
survive as low mounds of charcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and
generally situated close to a water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cook-
ing places’, whereby stones were heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough
of water, the water continued to boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food
was cooked within the hot water. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and
charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound.

4


Two new fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds were recorded at Clashnevin 1 E3586,
Cullenwaine E3741 and six at three separate locations in Greenhills, E3638, E3637 and
E3658. Evidence of nine roundhouses or partial round structures were recorded; two at
Castleroan E3909, Derrybane 2 E3591 and Drumbaun 2 E3912 and one at Clash E3660,
Drumroe E3773 and Moatquarter E3910.

Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)
Up to recently there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in Munster.
Settlement sites are few and far between as well as being difficult to identify (Woodman,
2000) while the material culture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, believed
to have marked tribal boundaries, and hillforts are two of the most visible monuments
of the period. Ten percent of sites excavated on NRA road schemes in recent years have
produced Iron Age dates. The dates have led to the identification of 30 new Iron Age sites
in Munster from road schemes in counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary (McLaughlin
2008, 51). These include a ditched enclosure in Ballywilliam and a wooden trackway in
Annaholty Bog excavated on the route of the N7 Nenagh-Limerick (Taylor 2008, 54).
Three Iron Age dates were returned from pits in Castleroan E3909 and Drumroe
E3773 on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1).

Early medieval period (c. AD 400 to 1100)
The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The
characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-
merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000
and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s
(Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has
a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries
AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the
form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu-
lar society (Stout 1997).
North Tipperary is rich in early ecclesiastical sites and the remains of these religious
centres are at the core of some of the towns and villages. Roscrea, for example, was chosen
by St Cronan as a location for his monastery in the seventh century as it was located at
the crossroads on the Slighe Dála, an important roadway in early medieval times (NIAH
2006, 4-8).
Early medieval activity was recorded at five sites on the route of the N7 Castletown
to Nenagh (Contract 1). A series of cereal-drying kilns were recorded at Busherstown
E3661. A denuded ringfort (OF046-013) was excavated at Clynoe 2 E3774. An area of
iron-working and associated pits was recorded at Drumbaun E3912. Iron working activ-
ity, cereal-drying kilns and settlement activity was recorded at Park 1 E3659. A group of
pits and associated ditch were recorded at Drumroe E3773.

5

190400 196200 202000 207800

6
Busherstown 1

186400
186400

Castleroan 1
E 3909
Busherstown 1
E 3661
Loughan 1

E 4000
Greenhills 3
E 3658

Culleenwaine 1 Moneygall 2
E 3741 E 3635 Moatquarter 1
Clynoe 2 E 3910
E 3774

181800
181800

Park 1 Drumroe 1
Garravally Kilgorteen 1 E 3659 E 3773
E 3589 E 3739
Drumbaun 2
Derrybane 2 E 3912
E 3591 Greenhills 1 Greenhills 2
E 3638 E 3637
Clashnevin 2
E 3590 Clash 1 Park 2
E 3660 E 3772

Derrycarney 1
E 3740

Clashnevin 1 Derrybane 1 Killeisk 1
E 3586 E 3585 E 3587

177200
177200

0 3 6

Kilometres ±
190400 196200 202000 207800

Figure 2: The route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh overlain on the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map with all the excavation sites marked�


High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)
This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tow-
er houses. The Anglo-Normans obtained charters in the thirteenth century for the towns
of Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Templemore and established markets. Nenagh grew
rapidly in the aftermath of the granting of the lands of Munster to Theobald fitzWalter in
1185 (ibid. 8). Moated sites represent the remains of isolated, semi-defended homesteads
in rural areas. They were build mainly in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth cen-
turies in counties, such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, mid-Cork and Limerick, that
were colonised by English settlers (O’Conor 1998, 58). The Archaeological Inventory for
North Tipperary lists 39 moated sites (2002, 298).
A medieval enclosure and associated field systems were recorded at Killeisk E3587. A
series of ditches and settlement activity was recorded at Park 1 E3659.

Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present)
The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-
es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). A small
demesne associated with a county house was recorded at Greenhills.

5 Site location and Topography
The site is located in the townland of Busherstown, in the Parish of Castletownely and
the barony of Clonlisk. It is located to the south of the present N7 and at the time of ex-
cavation accessed by a small by-road linking the N7 at Moneygall to the third class road
linking the village of Dunkerrin and the town of Templemore, east of Clonakenny and
south of Quinlisk’s Cross roads.
The site at Busherstown was situated on and around the summit of a low hill on the
northern edge of the rolling uplands of North Tipperary and South Offaly (Figure 4). The
site is surrounded on three sides by higher ground being open to the North with excellent
views across the vast expanse of the Offaly bogs and lowlands. The Slieve Bloom moun-
tains are visible to the North East.
To the west the ground rises gently and levels out, where the prehistoric settlement
evidence at Drumbaun 2 E3912 was located, before dropping sharply down to the present
N7 on the north-east side of the village of Moneygall. To the north-west a hill rises steeply
to approximately 175m OD. The lower slopes of this hill are containing a number of ring-
forts and enclosures. To the east the landscape rises and gently undulates through the
townlands of Moatquater and Castleroan before rising steeply in the townland of Rathna-
veoge Lower. To the south-east, south and south-west the ground rises steeply through
densely wooded areas through the townland of Durmroe to the source of the Suir River
just below the summit (460m OD) of the north end of the Devilsbit Mountain Range.

7

204713 205713

8
Castleroan
LOUGHAN

ea m
Loughan

S tr

182716
182716

e
lo g
K ee
CASTLEROAN

Moatquarter

BUSHERSTOWN

182066
182066

MOATQUARTER

Busherstown

Drumbaun 2
DRUMROE

0 300 600

DRUMBAUN Drumroe
¥ Meters
204713 205713

Figure 3: Portion of the Ist edition Ordnance Survey Map OF47 showing the location of Busherstown�

Loughan 1
204100 205400

110
s na ¢
ro

B
ittl e

13
Motte

0
rL
bUShErStown-E3661

15
180

0

Rive
160

182250
182250

140

170
120

160
170

150
15
0

Busherstown 1

150
Drumbaun 2 Drumroe 1
Ke e
l og
e Str

16
0
eam

181500
181500

17
0

130
140
160

0
16 180

19
0

0 1 Km
204100 205400

Figure 4: Topography of the area around Busherstown�
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3661-busherstown-co-offaly/

9


The site itself is located at around 140m OD overlooking a wide area of marshy ground
to the north-east and east. The ground drops sharply from the northern edge of the road
corridor to a small but fast flowing stream now forming part of a field boundary. The
post-medieval landscape is the most clearly visible on the landscape today. The rooftop
of Busherstown House can be seen nestled into a sheltered part of the valley surrounded
by mature woodland. The stone walled deerpark encloses land adjacent to the house and
rising up the slope to the east. A linear area of dense woodland bounds the deerpark to
the west, named as ‘the shrubbery’ on older maps. Running NE-SW along a current field
boundary is a line of wood growth named ‘Beech Grove’, leading into a larger area of
Lawn Wood.

6 Archaeological and Historical Setting
The following text on the history of Busherstown was written by Paul MacCotter (2011):
The Busherstown of 1641 bears only a loose resemblance to the area of the modern
townland. In 1641 there was the single townland of Busherstown Drumroe and the
second townland of Castletown, the greater portions of which together make up the
modern townland. The original Busherstown lay in the west of this area, Castletown in
the east. Most of modern Drumroe lay in Castletown, with only that part west of the
road lying in Busherstown, hence this western area must be the original Drumroe. The
church ruin in modern Drumroe then lay in Castletown, and this is the old parish church
of Castletownely, earlier Castle Philip. The newly excavated moated site lies in the origi-
nal Busherstown. The name Busherstown must derive from an Anglo-Norman family
of Bosser (modern Busher), a fairly common Anglo-Norman cognomen-type surname,
literally ‘the butcher’, who appear to have left no record beyond the toponym. Later, two
O Carroll families are associated with Busherstown and Castletown, those of Clonagan-
nagh and Ballybrack, although only the latter occur as planters in 1619, while both still
held property here in 1641.
The de Barrys of Castle Philip (Moatquarter and Busherstown) were one of the lead-
ing Anglo-Norman settler families in the cantred of Elyocarroll before the destruction
of its colony at the hands of the O Carroll chieftains during the second quarter of the
14th century. Among a number of fees they possessed here was that of Castle Philip, a
name which refers to the motte in Moatquarter. In the 1305 extent we read that Regi-
nald de Barry held ‘one theod at Castle Philip in Ossergele’. Here we should certainly
read ‘Offergele’, a colonial theod based on the pre-Invasion túath of Uí Fhearghaile. The
identification is certain: references to the church of Castle Philip occur in 1300, 1306,
1425 and 1506, and these references indicate that Castle Philip is the parish now known
as Castletown Ely, whose ruined church lies in Drumroe. Note that Drumroe church
lies adjacent to the motte of Moatquarter, the normal juxtaposition for manor house and
manor church at this period, for in most cases parish and manor share the same shape.
In this instance both church and motte bear the original name Castle Philip. The church

10


becomes known as Castletown in 1615 and, eventually, Castletownely. In 17th century
records the name Castletown is also given to the townland in which the church stood,
occupying the eastern third of modern Busherstown and most of Drumroe. Therefore,
this church is called after a fortification built originally by one Philip (de Barry?) and
which lay near the church. Yet there is no evidence from any of the topographical sources
we possess dating from the mid-17th century onwards of any castle in the vicinity of this
church apart from the nearby motte in Moatquarter. Hence, the inescapable conclusion
we arrive at is that the ‘castle’ in question is this motte.
Historical references help us to locate the de Barry theod of Offergele here, which
clearly included Moatquarter, Drumroe and Moneygall. We should expect to find its
shape reflected in that of the parish of Castletownely, but this omits Moatquarter and
Moneygall. It has a very different shape in the Down Survey (1656) however, and this
older extent allows us to add Moatquarter and Moneygall, as well as several other town-
lands, including Drumbaun, to the fee of Castle Philip. Given the propensity for civil par-
ish boundaries to change over time, a 17th century source is to be greatly preferred over a
19th century source. These references allow us to conclude that the motte of Moatquarter
was the site of an early Anglo-Norman manorial caput while the church of Drumroe or
Castletownely was its corresponding manor church. Thus both the historical and archae-
ological record suggest that this area only became important as the location of an Anglo-
Norman manorial caput in the early 13th century. The location of these dual features
at the centre of an area of significant distribution of late-medieval archaeological sites
confirms the location of the caput here and its importance. We note especially the large
moated-site at Busherstown. This was clearly the fortified homestead of an important
free-tenant of the manor of Castle Philip, who was very probably surnamed Busher. The
actual area of the farm attached to the moated site is very probably reflected in the shape
of the 17th century 510-acre townland of Busherstown. Other important sites nearby
include a late-medieval settlement in Busherstown, an Anglo-Norman ringwork castle
in Lisduff, and a number of possible moated sites in Lisduff and Moatquarter. Again, the
archaeology agrees with the historical record telling of the abandonment of much of these
settlements as a result of the Gaelic resurgence here, when the O Carrolls destroyed the
colony in Elyocarroll after 1325.

7 Excavation methodology
The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision.
Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Topsoil stripping
commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued radially outward until
the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was
fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeological features
were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and mean-
ingful record of the site to be preserved. The excavation, environmental sampling, site

11

204400 204750 205100

12
182000
182000

BUSHERSTOWN

181800
181800

13400
13500

13300
13600

13200
1370
0

13100
1380
0
13900
14000
14100

181600
181600

DRUMROE

DRUMBAUN Busherstown 1 (E3661)
0 100 200
Metres
204400 204750 205100

Figure 5: Location and extent of Busherstown E3661 on the N7 Castletown to Nenagh� Note the location of the stream�


Plate 1: View of Busherstown from north�

photographs, site drawings, find care and retrieval, on-site recording and site archive was
as per the Procedures for Archaeological works as attached to the licence method state-
ments for excavation licences.
The site was excavated from the 10th September 2007 and the on-site phase of work
was completed on the 8th February 2008. An area approximately 5185m² was initially
opened. Only areas within the LMA (lands made available) were resolved (Figure 5). This
area was cleaned and examined. On the establishment of the nature, extent and distri-
bution of the archaeological remains present a further 400m² was opened on the north
side of the site. During the length of the excavation the crew comprised one director, two
supervisors and 22 site assistants.
The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register and the strati-
graphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups
and sub-groups text (Appendix 3). The context register maybe viewed in the EAPOD
(Eachtra Archaeological Projects office database) in the accompanying CD.

13

204720 204780

14
Moated Structure C
site

181827
181827

Annexe
Structure D

AD
AD 713-888
1292-1394

Structure B

Structure F
145 m O.D. AD
657-769

Structure E AD
658-766

AD
1210-1271

Structure A

181789
181789

AD
1159-1252

Kilns Human skeleton
0 25 m
204720 204780

Figure 6: Post excavation plan of Busherstown�


Plate 2: Flint scraper E3661:1:5 from
Busherstown�

8 Excavation results
Archaeological excavation of the site at Busherstown revealed a complex multi-period site
with at least six phases of activity identified (Figure 6). In broad outline they confirmed
the use of the area from the Early Neolithic period to the present time. The earliest phase
of activity was prehistoric in date and comprised a small lithic assemblage and possibly a
circular structure. The second and third phases of activity were dated to the early medie-
val period. The area was used for cereal processing and was defined by an enclosure. More
than 20 kilns were recorded and upto ten of these were located in a line that extended for
a distance of 80 m in a NW-SE direction. The continuous use of the area in the medieval
period was confirmed by the next phase of activity (Phase 4) when certain areas of the
site were enclosed through the construction of deep, wide ditches. A subsequent phase of
activity on the site included the construction of a substantial ditch which enclosed a sub-
rectangular moated site (Phase 5). The moated site was only partially located within the
road corridor, but the entire outline can be clearly seen in aerial photographs of the ad-
joining field to the north-east (Plate 1). The modern period (Phase 6) was represented by
a large number of furrows and attempts to level the site. The upper fill of all the medieval
ditches was modern in origin as the site had been levelled.

15


±
214

389

Structure A 1020

427
563
463 454
398

543 430

419

378

411

0 2.5 m

Figure 7: Post-excavation plan of Structure A at Busherstown�

Phase 1 Prehistoric
The prehistoric phase of activity was defined by a small assemblage of lithics dated to
the Neolithic Period and a small circular structure dated, on typological grounds, to the
Bronze Age.

Neolithic
The Neolithic assemblage from Busherstown includes a flint blade dated to the first half
of the Neolithic period (E366:365:1), three flakes, possibly Middle Neolithic in date
(E3661:1:5, E3661:99:1 and E3661:175:1), three retouched artefacts, including one flint
scraper (E3661:1:5, Plate 2) and two rubbing stones dated to Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze
Age (E3661:777:1 and E3661:796:1). The lithic finds were recovered from residual con-
texts, including the topsoil, the fills of ditches C.68, C.44, C.54, kilns C.30, C.491 and
C.743A, post-holes/pit C.366, post-hole C.796, slot trench C.392, pit C.669 and furrow
C.287.

Bronze Age
A circular structure, Structure 1, was recorded in the central part of the site (Figure 7,
plate 3). It comprised a ring of seven post-holes (C.214, C.378, C.389, C.398, C.411,

16

204720 204780

181827
181827
bUShErStown-E3661

447

622

68

181789
181789

0 25 m
204720 204780

Figure 8: Post-excavation plan of ditches C�447 and C�68 at Busherstown�

17


Plate 3: Building A from south-west at Busherstown�

C.419 and C.1020) and a hearth (C.427) in the interior. The building measured 4.4 m
in diameter. The structural post-holes were similar in size, measuring on average 0.24 m
by 0.23 m by 0.33 m in depth. All of them had one mid grey brown silty sand fill with
occasional inclusions of pebbles and small stones. The distance between the post-holes
averaged 1.9 m with the exception of a gap of 2.3 m between two post-holes on the east-
ern side, which defined the area of the entrance. A total of five stake-holes (C.563, C.454,
C.463, C.430 and C.543) were associated with the hearth, three of them (C.430, C.454
and C.463) cut the hearth and the other two (C.543 and C.563) were placed on the op-
posite sides of hearth.
The northern edge of this group of features was truncated by the enclosure ditch C.54.

Phase 2 Early medieval activity
The second phase of activity comprised two ditches which formed three sides of an enclo-
sure and a series of cereal-drying kilns.

Early medieval ditches
Two ditches (C.68 and C.447) (Figure 8) formed three sides of an enclosure which meas-
ured at least 30 m north-south by 45 m east-west. The activity was early medieval in date
and contemporary with the kilns. No radiocarbon dates were obtained from the ditches
but several of the kilns were located close to both sides of the ditches presumably for shel-

18

N7CN N7CN
Busherstown Busherstown
E3661 E3661
NW facing section of C.447 SW facing section of C.127

C.591
bUShErStown-E3661

C.83

C.448
C.80 C.82

C.81
C.607
C.79
C.608

C.78/127
C.447

N7CN
Busherstown
E3661
SW facing section of C.68 and C.63

C.69

C.64
C.70
C.71

C.72

C.67
C.65
C.73 C.66

C.63

C.68
0 500 mm

Figure 9: Section plans of ditches C�68, C�63, C�447 and C�78/127 at Busherstown�

19

Archaeological Excavation Report Reveals Early Medieval Kilns and Medieval Moated Site in Offaly

Archaeological Excavation Report Reveals Early Medieval Kilns and Medieval Moated Site in Offaly

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Archaeological Excavation Report Reveals Early Medieval Kilns and Medieval Moated Site in Offaly