1,000-year-old coin among finds in Cork archaeological dig

The discovery of the coins has fuelled speculation that a castle may have stood on this site much earlier than expected

A close-up of the coin, which was found during excavations at Carrignacurra Castle in Cork.

Two silver coins, one almost 1,000-year-old, and a tax token which was later used as a board game piece during the Middle Ages have been unearthed during archaeological excavations as part of the multi-million restoration of a landmark tower house.

The discovery of the coins by archaeologist Tony Miller, who is excavating the medieval Carrignacurra castle near Inchigeela in Cork, has fuelled speculation that a castle may have stood on this site much earlier than expected.