archaeological report - gortnahown 1, co. cork (ireland)
TRANSCRIPT
Issue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237]
Archaeological Excavation ReportE2423 - Gortnahown 1, Co. Cork
Prehistoric activity, including a Bronze age structure
Eachtra Journal
May 2011
Archaeological Excavation Report
Co Cork
Cork County Council and National Roads Authority
Julianna O'Donoghue
Gortnahown 1
EACHTRAArchaeological Projects
E No:
:
Project:
Client:
E2423
N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown
Julianna O'DonoghueExcavation Director
Written by:
Prehistoric activity, including a Bronze age structure at
CORKThe Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork
tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]
GALWAY Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway
tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]
Archaeological Excavation Report
Gortnahown 1Co Cork
Excavation Director
Julianna O'Donoghue
Written By
Julianna O'Donoghue
EACHTRAArchaeological Projects
© Eachtra Archaeological Projects 2011The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork
Printed in Ireland
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Table of ContentsSummary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������iii
Acknowledgements��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iv
1 Scopeoftheproject�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
2 Routelocation��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
3 Receivingenvironment��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground��������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
5 SiteLocationandTopography�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9
6 Excavationmethodology������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 9
7 Excavationresults������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14Area�1���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14
Area�2���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22
Plant�remains������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23
Burnt�bone����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24
Animal�bone������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24
Stone�find�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24
Radiocarbon�Dating���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25
8 Discussion��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26
9 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������29
Appendix1 StratigraphicMatrix������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31
Appendix2 Sitematrix�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46
Appendix3 Groupsandsubgroups�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������48
Appendix4 FindsRegister������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 55
Appendix5 PlantRemainsReport���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������56
Appendix6 OsteoarchaeologicalReport��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 57
Appendix7 AnimalBoneReport�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������63
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List of FiguresFigure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurvey
DiscoverySeriesmap�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Figure2: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainonthefirsteditionOrd-nanceSurveymapCO010,011,019,020,027and028������������������������������������������������������������������ 3
Figure3: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�ThemapisbasedonthesecondeditionOrdnanceSurveymaps��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6
Figure4: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown1Area1������������������������������������������������������������������������������10
Figure5: SectionofpitC�82������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 11
Figure6: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown1Area2����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13
Figure7: Post-excavationplanofstructureatGortnahown1Area2����������������������������������������������������� 17
Figure8: SectionoffoundationtrenchesC�25,C�65andC�27������������������������������������������������������������������18
Figure9: SectionofpitC�28������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21
Figure10: TopographicalmapshowingthelocationofGortnahown1E2423,Gortnahown2E2426andGortnahown3E2477���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������27
List of PlatesPlate1: ViewofGortnahown1Area1,fromsouth-west�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Plate2: Post-exviewofpit(C�54)andstake-hole(C�58)Area1,fromeast����������������������������������������� 12
Plate3: Post-exviewofpit(C�41)Area1,fromsouth-east������������������������������������������������������������������������ 15
Plate4: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�25)Area1,fromsouth-east������������������������������������������������������ 15
Plate5: Mid-excavationviewofhearth(C�80)Area1,fromnorth-west����������������������������������������������16
Plate6: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�82)Area1,fromsouth-west�����������������������������������������������������16
Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�88)Area1,fromnorth���������������������������������������������������������������� 19
Plate8: AerialviewofGortnahown1Area2,fromthenorth-east�������������������������������������������������������20
Plate9: CloseraerialviewofexcavatedfeaturesinGortnahown1Area2,fromthenorth-east���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20
Plate10: ViewofsaddlequernE2423:36:1��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24
List of TablesTable1 DimensionsofpitsintheeasternpartofArea1�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Table2 Dimensionsofhearthandpits������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 19
Table3 Dimensionsofpitsandslottrenches�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22
Table4 Dimensionsofpost-holesintheinteriorofthestructure���������������������������������������������������������23
Table5 Radiocarbondates�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25
Table6 BronzeAgehousesontheN8FermoyMitchelstown���������������������������������������������������������������28
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SummaryThe excavation of the site at Gortnahown 1 comprised two separate areas of excavation. A group of over 30 pits, post-holes and stake-holes were excavated in Area 1. An Early Bronze Age and an Iron Age date were returned from pits in Area 1. At Area 2 there were 26 cut features, these included six slot trenches, five pits, eight stake-holes and four post-holes, which represented the truncated remains of a Bronze Age house. A saddle quern, a small quantity of charred animal bone and a token deposit of the cremated remains of a juvenile were recovered from the Bronze Age house.
Road project name N8 Fermoy to MitchelstownSite name Gortnahown 1Ministerial Order no. A040E no. E2423Site director Julianna O’DonoghueTownland GortnahownParish GlanworthBarony Condons & ClangibbonOS Map Sheet No. CO019National Grid Reference 180714 109340
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AcknowledgementsThe senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation managers were Penny Johnston and Jacinta Kiely. Administration of the project was by Choryna Kiely and Fiona Greene. Illustrations are by Ben Blakeman and Maurizio Toscano. Photographs are by John Sunderland, Hawkeye and Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Specialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Linda Lynch, Margaret McCarthy and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and was commissioned by Cork County Council on behalf of the National Roads Authority. The project archaeolo-gist was Ken Hanley.
Gortnahown 1-E2423
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1 Scope of the project The archaeological works associated with the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council, National Road Design Office, Richmond, Glanmire, Co. Cork. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Devel-opment Plan 2007-2013. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Cork County Council as part of the Authority’s commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct archaeological site investigations within the lands made available, to assess the nature and extent of any potential new sites uncovered and to preserve by record those sites of agreed archaeological significance, as approved by the Department of Environ-ment, Heritage and Local Government in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland.
Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in October 2005 under licence 05E1150 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Lo-cal Government (DoEHLG). 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 archaeological potential identified in the EIS and geophysical surveying. Five Cul-tural Heritage Sites were tested under individual excavation licences 05E1122-05E1126.
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 September 2006 to September 2007 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. A total of 28 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 arising from archaeological works along the route of the new N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown. It included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works. The document detailed the location of the route, the receiving environment, the archaeo-logical and historical background, the scope of the project and the circumstances and scope of fieldwork. The document presented a scheme-wide summary of the archaeologi-cal findings, a research framework within which the findings were dealt with and a pub-lication plan and dissemination strategy for the end results.
2 Route locationThe route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road is located in the rich pastureland of North Cork (Figures 1 and 2). The project involves the construction of c. 16 km of the N8 from Gortore north of Fermoy to Carrigane north-east of Mitchelstown. The N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road passes through the townlands of Gortore, Ballynacarriga, Glen-wood, Ballinglanna North, Ballinrush, Caherdrinny, Gortnahown, Ballybeg, Turbeagh,
Sligo
MayoRoscommon
Galway
Clare
Leitrim
Cavan
Longford
Westmeath
Tipperary
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
WexfordKilkenny
Carlow
Wicklow
Kildare
Dublin
Meath
Louth
Laois
Donegal Antrim
Armagh
Derry
DownFermanagh
Tyrone
Clare
Offaly
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
Waterford
Antrim
N8
Key
Townland Boundaries
Gortore 1BE2410
Gortore 2E3973
Ballynacarriga 1E2411
Ballynacarriga 2E2413
Ballinglanna North 1E2414
Ballinglanna North 3E2416
Ballinglanna North 4E2417
Ballinglanna North 5E2418
Ballinrush 1E2419
Caherdrinny 1E2420
Caherdrinny 2E2421
Caherdrinny 3E2422
Gortnahown 1E2423
Gortnahown 2E2426
Gortnahown 3E2477
Glenatluckly 1E2427
Ballynamona 2E2429
Ballynamona 1E2428
Garryleagh 1E2433
Carrigane 1E2434
Kilshanny 3E2432
Kilshanny 2E2431
Kilshanny 1E2430
Kildrum 1E3971
Ballynacarriga 3E2412
Ballinglanna North 2E2415
Gortnahown 4E3832
Ballinglanna North 6E3972
Gortnahown 1E2423
N
0km 2km
Prehistoric Settlement Site
Post Medieval
Early Medieval
Prehistoric Site
Burnt Mound
Non-archaeological
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Figure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscoverySeriesmap�
Sligo
MayoRoscommon
Galway
Clare
Leitrim
Cavan
Longford
Westmeath
Tipperary
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
WexfordKilkenny
Carlow
Wicklow
Kildare
Dublin
Meath
Louth
Laois
Donegal Antrim
Armagh
Derry
DownFermanagh
Tyrone
Clare
Offaly
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
Waterford
Antrim
N8
Key
Townland Boundaries
Gortore 1BE2410
Gortore 2E3973
Ballynacarriga 1E2411
Ballynacarriga 2E2413
Ballinglanna North 1E2414
Ballinglanna North 3E2416
Ballinglanna North 4E2417
Ballinglanna North 5E2418
Ballinrush 1E2419
Caherdrinny 1E2420
Caherdrinny 2E2421
Caherdrinny 3E2422
Gortnahown 1E2423
Gortnahown 2E2426
Gortnahown 3E2477
Glenatluckly 1E2427
Ballynamona 2E2429
Ballynamona 1E2428
Garryleagh 1E2433
Carrigane 1E2434
Kilshanny 3E2432
Kilshanny 2E2431
Kilshanny 1E2430
Kildrum 1E3971
Ballynacarriga 3E2412
Ballinglanna North 2E2415
Gortnahown 4E3832
Ballinglanna North 6E3972
Gortnahown 1E2423
N
0km 2km
Prehistoric Settlement Site
Post Medieval
Early Medieval
Prehistoric Site
Burnt Mound
Non-archaeological
Gortnahown 1-E2423
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Figure2: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ordnance Survey mapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
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Glenatlucky, Ballynamona, Kilshanny, Corracunna, Kildrum, Garryleagh, and Carrig-ane. The townlands are located in the parishes of Kilcrumper, Glanworth and Brigown and Barony of Condons & Clangibbon, with the exception of Gortore, and Glenwood, which are located in the Barony of Fermoy.
The route begins at the northern end of the Fermoy Bypass at Gortore, c. 2km north of Fermoy, and continues northwards across the River Funshion, and to the west of the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion, for 4 km. At Caherdrinny, it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains. From there it descends north-east-wards onto the broad plain that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown. It crosses the existing N8 at Gortnahown and passes to the east of Mitchelstown, crossing the R665 Mitchelstown-Ballyporeen road and links up with the N8 Cashel Mitchelstown Road at Carrigane south of Kilbeheny and 2 km west of where the borders of the Cork, Limerick and Tipperary counties meet.
3 Receiving environmentThe topography of East Cork and Waterford consists of east/west valleys separated by in-tervening ridges. The ridges consist of sandstones and mudstones of the Devonian Period (Old Red Sandstone) laid down 355-410 million years ago and the valleys of Carbonifer-ous limestones laid down 290-355 million years ago. The sediments covering many of the rocks are mainly of glacial origin deposited by glacial ice or meltwater (Sleeman et al. 1995, 1).
The landscape of the area is dominated by the Galtee Mountains to the north, the Ballyhoura Mountains to the north-west, the Kilworth Mountains to the east and the Nagles to the south. The landscape is drained by the Blackwater River, the Funshion River (which flows into the Blackwater River c. 2 km north-east of Fermoy), and the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion River. The largest population centres in the area, Fermoy and Mitchelstown, have developed on the banks of the River Blackwater and Gradoge (a tributary of the Funshion), respectively.
The route begins at Gortore, c. 2 km north of Fermoy, at an elevation of c. 40 m OD. At Caherdrinny, it rises to its maximum elevation of c. 180 m OD as it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains, before descending onto the broad plain that that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown, at an elevation of 100-120 m OD.
The soils on the southern portion of the route are characterised by acid brown earths derived from mixed sandstone and limestone glacial till. These soils occur generally in the valleys of Cork and Waterford (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 61), and have a wide use range, being suitable for tillage and grass production. The soils on the western limits of Kilworth Mountains are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone. The soils on the northern portion of the route are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone and shale glacial till. They have a wide range of potential uses and are well
Gortnahown 1-E2423
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suited to arable and pastoral farming (ibid., 67). Land use along the route was almost en-tirely grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing, with only an occasional tillage field.
4 Archaeological and historical backgroundArchaeological 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), Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Chalcolithic (Beaker) (c. 2500-2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 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).
A number of Giant Irish Deer (Megaloceros giganteus) skulls, large antlers, antler frag-ments and various long-bones were retrieved from the clay sediments, c. 1.5 m below the peat stratum at Ballyoran Bog (04E1014) on the route of the N8 Rathcormac Fermoy. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 11201-10962 was returned for the Giant Irish Deer. Gi-ant Irish Deer are extinct but are known to have inhabited Ireland during two separate periods in the Pleistocene (from 37,000-32,000 BP and 11,750-10,950 BP), with examples from lake deposits beneath peat bogs frequently dating to the period between 11,750 BP and 10,950 BP (Woodman et al. 1997). The Ballyoran Bog examples were found in this typical location of lacustrine (lake ) sediments beneath peat and they therefore pre-date the beginnings of bog formation and the first human settlement of the area.
Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 8000 BC - 4000 BC). In Munster, the majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Meso-lithic occupation has ‘come from the Blackwater valley in Co. Cork’ (Woodman 1989, 116). Flint scatters were recorded in the townlands of Kilcummer Lower (CO034-060) on the northern bank of the Blackwater c. 13 km to the south-west of the route and in Ballynamona (CO018-099) and Wallstown (CO018-100) on the northern and southern sides of the Awbeg river respectively c. 20 km to the west of the route (Power et al. 2000, 2). Mesolithic sites and find spots were recorded on other road schemes in Co. Cork, these included; Rath-healy 3 03E1678 and Curraghprevin 3 03E1138 (N8 Rathcormac Fermoy Bypass), Ballynacarriaga 1 01E0567 (N25 Youghal Bypass), Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546 (N22 Ballincollig Bypass) and Carrigrohane 3 02E0431 (N22 BG).
Mesolithic activity was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown at Gortore E2410 and at Caherdrinny 3 E2422 and Mesolithic stone tools were recovered from Ballinglanna North 1 E2414, Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 and Ballinglanna North 6 E3972.
Sligo
MayoRoscommon
Galway
Clare
Leitrim
Cavan
Longford
Westmeath
Tipperary
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
WexfordKilkenny
Carlow
Wicklow
Kildare
Dublin
Meath
Louth
Laois
Donegal Antrim
Armagh
Derry
DownFermanagh
Tyrone
Clare
Offaly
Limerick
Kerry
Cork
Waterford
Antrim
N8
RMP Sheet No. CO10RMP Sheet No. CO11
MP Sheet No. CO19 RMP Sheet No. CO20
RMP Sheet No. CO27
RMP Sheet No. CO28
Key
Townland Boundaries
Gortore 1BE2410
Gortore 2E3973
Ballynacarriga 1E2411
Ballynacarriga 2E2413
Ballinglanna North 1E2414
Ballinglanna North 3E2416
Ballinglanna North 4E2417
Ballinglanna North 5E2418
Ballinrush 1E2419
Caherdrinny 1E2420
Caherdrinny 2E2421
Caherdrinny 3E2422
Gortnahown 1E2423
Gortnahown 2E2426
Gortnahown 3E2477
Glenatluckly 1E2427
Ballynamona 2E2429
Ballynamona 1E2428
Garryleagh 1E2433
Carrigane 1E2434
Kilshanny 3E2432
Kilshanny 2E2431
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Early Medieval
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Non-archaeological
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Figure3: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�ThemapisbasedonthesecondeditionOrdnanceSurveymaps�
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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. A substantial Neolithic settlement site has been recorded at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Previously the nearest known Neolithic house was located in Pepper-hill (CO016-226/01) c. 30 km to the northwest of the route. It was recorded during the construction of the Bruff-Mallow gas pipeline (Gowen 1988, 44-51).
The material culture includes the manufacture of pottery, flint and stone arrowheads, scrapers, axes etc. The range of monuments types includes Megalithic tombs, single burial graves and stone circles. Megalithic tombs can be sub-divided into court tombs, portal tombs, passage tombs and wedge tombs. There are few wedge tombs or stone circles known from north or east Cork. Two of the exceptions are wedge tombs located at Lab-bacallee (CO027-086), which is one of the largest wedge tombs in the country, and at Manning (CO027-091) both located c. 4 km west of the N8.
Recent infrastructural work on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy and the Ballincollig Bypass have added significantly to the number of Neolithic sites in the county. A Neo-lithic house was excavated at Gortore (E2119), on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy road and another Neolithic house was excavated at Barnagore (02E0384), along the route of the Ballincollig Bypass. Both of these Cork examples produced essentially the same ra-diocarbon results (cal BC 3940-3620 at Barnagore and cal BC 3928-3655 from Gortore) and they represent the oldest known houses in the county. A single pit at Fermoy town-land (05E0078), located c. 3 km to the south of Gortore, produced 12 sherds of a Middle Neolithic Globular bowl, and another site at Curraghprevin (c.12 km south of Gortore) produced Western Neolithic (Early Neolithic) pottery and a radiocarbon date of 3090-2580 BC (Late Neolithic).
Rectangular Neolithic houses were recorded on the route of the N8 FM at Gortore 1b (E2410), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416) and Caherdrinny 3 (E2422). A large enclosure containing several structures associated with Late Neolithic pottery was excavated at Bal-lynacarriaga 3 (E2412). Activity dating to the Neolithic was also recorded at Ballynamona 1 (E2428), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), and Gortnahown 2 (E2426) and Gortore 2 (E3973).
Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500BC)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; over 2,000 examples have been recorded in County Cork alone. 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 ‘cooking places’, whereby stones
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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 wa-ter. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound.
The Bronze Age cemetery site at Mitchelstowndown West, c. 16 km to the north of Mitchelstown, contains 53 small barrows. The Discovery Programme Report 1 (Daly and Grogan 1992, 44) selected four of this group for excavation.
Until recently, Bronze Age settlement sites were a rarity in North Cork. A Bronze Age occupation site was recorded underlying the medieval ringfort Lisleagh I (CO027-158) c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 (Power et al. 2000, 210). A house site was excavated at Killydonoghoe on the route of the N8 Glanmire-Watergrasshill Bypass (Sherlock 2003). Three circular houses dating to the Middle Bronze Age were excavated at Mitchelstown (04E1072) on the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. A large Bronze Age settlement site con-sisting of three circular enclosures and three circular houses was excavated in 2003 at Ballybrowney (03E1058), on the route of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy (Cotter 2005, 40).
Bronze Age round houses were recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchel-stown at Kilshanny 1 (E2432) and Ballynamona 2 (E2429). Burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh sites were recorded at Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416), Ball-inglanna North 6 (E3972), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), Caherdrinny 1 (E2420), Kilshanny 3 (E2432) and Kildrum 1 (E3971). Two ring ditches and associated cists and pits burials were recorded at Ballynacarriga 3 (E2412). Portions of several encrusted urns and food vessels dating to the Early Bronze Age were recorded in association with the burials. A cremation burial and associated Early Bronze Age urn were also recorded at Glenatlucky (E2427).
Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)Until the last decade there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in the Cork region. 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 monu-ments of the period. Recent infrastructural work on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass, the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass and the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy has altered the picture considerably.
Three separate stretches of a linear boundary, the Claidh Dubh, have been recorded in County Cork. The longest stretch, c. 24 km in length extends from the Nagle Mountains, across the Blackwater valley and into the Ballyhoura Hills. Radiocarbon dating following excavation of a section of it revealed it dated to some time before AD100 (Doody 1995, 23).
Two of the four hillfort sites in Cork are located in North Cork (Power et al. 2000, 205). Caherdrinny (CO019:97/01&03) is located at the western end of the Kilworth Mountains, c. 700 m to the west of the N8, Corrin (CO035:49/01) is located at the east-
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ern end of the Nagle Mountains, overlooking a pass between the Blackwater and Bride river valleys just south of Fermoy.
Iron Age dates were returned from a roundhouse at Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546, a possible bowl furnace at Curraheen 1 01E1209 and the fulacht fiadh at Curraheen 4 02E1297 on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass; the Iron Age structure at Muckridge 1 01E0429 on the N25 Youghal Bypass; iron working sites at Kilrussane 01E0701 and Trabstown 01E0501 on the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass; the iron working site at Lisnagar De-mesne 1 03E1510, the pit at Maulane East 1 03E1286, the pit at Scartbarry 3 03E1800, the corn-drying kiln at Rath-healy 1 03E1139, the burnt mound at Fermoy Wood 04E1014 and the ring ditch at Ballybrowney Lower 3 05E0233 all on the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy.
Activity dating to the Iron Age was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitch-elstown at Ballinglanna North 3 E2416, Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, Ballynacarriaga 3 E2412, Gortnahown 1 E2423, Gortnahown 3 E2477 and Caherdrinny 3 E2422. The sites, with the exception of a single fire pit at Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, did not date exclusively to the Iron Age.
5 Site Location and TopographyThe site was located at the base of Kilworth Mountains at a height of 130 M OD. The The Kilworth Mountains were visible to the south, the hillfort at Caherdrinny (CO019:97/01&03) was located to the south-west and the broad Mitchelstown plain to the north.
6 Excavation methodologyThe excavation was carried out under E-Number E2423 and complied with the method statement approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Govern-ment, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision. Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Where appropriate mini-diggers were used, and in the larger areas to be stripped multiple large tracked machines were used; all stripping operations involved the use of multiple dumpers for topsoil mounding. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued 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 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.
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Figure4: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown1Area1�
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Figure6: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown1Area2�
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The site was excavated from 14 May 2007 to 27 May 2007 and 3 September 2007 to 10 September 2007. Only areas within the CPO were resolved. The site was split into two areas. Area 1 measured 1109 m2 and Area 2 measured 728 m2. Area 1 was located 140 m to the north-east of Area 2.
7 Excavation resultsThe full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the stratigraphic index (Appendix 1) and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3).
Area 1At Area 1 thirty-one cut features were excavated (Figure 4, Plate 1). These included 17 pits, seven post-holes, six stake-holes and one hearth.
Cluster of pits, post-holes and stake-holesA cluster of features in the eastern extent of the site included five pits (C.41, C.62, C.25, C.60 and C.54), six post-holes (C.17, C.19, C.21, C.23, C.64 and C.66) and five stake-holes (C.42, C.47, C.56, C.57 and C.58). The collection of pits and post-holes in this part of Area 1 is the only part of the site where a discernible pattern in the archaeological remains was visible.
Pit Length Width Depth Shape in plan Associated stake-holesC.41 0.64 m 0.56 m 0.19 m Irregular C.47, C.56, C.57C.62 1.65 m 0.7 m 0.12 m IrregularC.25 0.82 m 0.7 m 0.35 m OvalC.60 1.02 m 0.56 m 0.07 m OvalC.54 1.45 m 0.74 m 0.18 m Irregular C.58
Table1DimensionsofpitsintheeasternpartofArea1
The pits were spaced in a semi-oval pattern around a central pit C.62 enclosing an area of c. 10 m sq. An Early Bronze Age date of cal BC 1728-1533 (UB-12980) was returned from the pit C.62.
The pits were oval-shaped and irregular in plan. They all contained similar fills. Two of the pits (C.41 and C.58) were associated with stake-holes: a stake-hole (C.58) was lo-cated in the base of pit C.54 (Plate 2) and a total of three stake-holes (C.47, C.56 and C.57) were located in the base and one (C.42) on the edge of pit C.41 (Plate 3).
The six post-holes, that formed part of the group, seemed to be set in pairs. Post-holes (C.64 and C.66) were located 1.4 m to the south of the central pit C.62 and the other four (C.19, C.17, C.23 and C.21) were located 2.7 m to the north (Plate 4). Post-holes C.64 and C.66 were located 1.4 m apart. While the other two pairs of posts were spaced c. 4 m apart.
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Plate3: Post-exviewofpit(C�41)Area1,fromsouth-east�
Plate4: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�25)Area1,fromsouth-east�
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Plate5: Mid-excavationviewofhearth(C�80)Area1,fromnorth-west�
Plate6: Post-excavation view ofpit (C�82) Area 1, fromsouth-west�
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It is possible that these features together formed a small, flimsy structure and/or a work space associated with the production of food or other general domestic activities.
Peripheral hearth, pits and post-holesIn the south-western part of this area of excavation a hearth (C.80, Plate 5) was located between two large pits (C.88 and C.82). The hearth (C.80) was a sub-triangular pit with a flat base. It contained two fills (C.79 and C.89) of sandy clay with inclusions of pebbles and a lot of charcoal (particularly in the upper fill). The two pits near this hearth were irregular (C.82, Figure 5, Plate 6) and oval-shaped (C.88, Plate 7) in plan. The fills of the pits (C.82 and C.88) were charcoal-rich; they were probably used for the deposition of waste material from the hearth.
Context Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m) TypeC.80 0.88 0.85 0.14 Hearth C.82 1.9 1 0.75 PitC.88 2.1 1.85 0.64 Pit
Table2Dimensionsofhearthandpits
Two small post-holes (C.74 and C.78), which were similar in size to one another, were located to the south-east of the two pits and hearth. Post C.78 was located 2 m east of the pit C.88 and post C.74 was located 7 m to the south-east of the pit.
Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�88)Area1,fromnorth�
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Two pits (C.68 and C.70) were located 11 m south of the eastern cluster. They were spaced 0.7 m apart. Pit C.4, small and rectangular in plan, was located 10 m to the north-east. An Iron Age date of cal BC 88 – cal AD 54 (UB-13174) was returned from pit C.4
Four pits (C.6, C.10, C.28 and C.48) and two stake-holes (C.52 and C.55) were re-corded in the northern section of the site. The two stake-holes were located to the im-
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mediate east of pit C.48. Pit C.28 was the largest of the pits, it measured 2.95 m by 1.78 m and 0.42 m in depth.
Area 2The features in Area 2 are likely to represent the partial remains of a truncated Bronze Age house. A total of 23 cut features were recorded, these included six slot trenches (C.11, C.17, C.19, C.25, C.27 and C.65), five pits, (C.6, C.8, C.21, C.28 and C.37), eight stake-holes (C.50, C.53, C.55, C.58, C.60, C.64, C.68 and C.77) and four post-holes (C.3, C.13, C.16 and C.47) (Plates 8 and 9). A series of furrows, at closely spaced intervals, aligned north-south and east-west crossed the site (Figure 6). The features were clustered in the central section of the site on the edge of the area of excavation.
The Round HouseThe inner ring of the structure was defined on the eastern side by two slot trenches (C.11 and C.25). The trench C.27 was located parallel to trench C.25 and may have functioned as a drip gully for the overhang of a roof. The other three slot trenches (C.17, C.19 and C.65) were located in the area of the entrance (Figure 8). Slot C.19 was located perpen-dicular to the shorter slot C.17. The curvilinear trench (C.65) was located in the area of the entrance partially parallel and perpendicular to the structure. It had a flat base and contained six sandy silt fills (C.66, C.67, C.72, C.73, C.74 and C.75). They included peb-bles, stones, charcoal, heat affected stones and flecks of burnt bone. The third C.17 was located in between C.19 and C.65.
Context Type L x W x D (m) LocationC.6 Pit 0.7 x 0.43 x 0.43 InteriorC.8 Pit 0.9 x 0.35 x 0.15 InteriorC.11 Slot trench 3.64 x 0.8 x 0.18 FoundationC.17 Slot trench 1.69 x 0.61 x 0.14 ExteriorC.19 Slot trench 2.7 x 0.5 x 0.2 ExteriorC.21 Pit 1.25 x 0.85 x 0.36 Area of entranceC.25 Slot trench 2.9 x 0.4 x 0.2 FoundationC.27 Slot trench 3 x 0.37 x 0.2 ExteriorC.28 Hearth 1.6 x 1.12 x 0.4 InteriorC.37 Pit 1.54 x 0.84 x 0.22 InteriorC.65 Slot trench 1.9 x 0.5 x 0.2 Exterior
Table3Dimensionsofpitsandslottrenches
Four post-holes (C.3, C.13, C.16 and C.47) and four pits (C.6, C.8, C.28 and C.37) were located within the interior of the structure and one pit (C21) in the area of the en-trance. The pit C.28 is likely to be a centrally located hearth. Most of the internal features were located between the hearth and the area of the entrance. The pits varied in size and shape. Two of the pits (C.6 and C.8) were small in size. Three of the pits, including the hearth (C.21 C.28 and C.37) were mid-sized. They ranged between 1.25 m and 1.6m in length, 0.84 m and 1.12m in width and 0.22 m and 0.4 m in depth. Five fills (C.41, C.42,
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C.43, C.44 and C.62) were recorded I the hearth-pit. They included pebbles, charcoal, burnt clay and flecks of animal bone (Figure 9).
Three stake-holes were located in the interior. Stake-hole C.50 cut the base of post-hole C.47. Stake-hole C.58 was located on the north-western side of pit C.37 and stake-hole C.68 was located on the southern side of slot trench C.25.
Two of the post-holes (C.3 and C.47) may have been located on or inside the line of the foundations. One of the post-holes (C.16) cut through the eastern side of pit (C.6).
Context Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m)C.3 0.51 0.44 0.35C.13 0.34 0.3 0.22C.16 0.38 0.29 0.17C.47 0.34 0.23 0.1
Table4Dimensionsofpost-holesintheinteriorofthestructure
Five stake-holes (C.53, C.55, C.60, C.64 and C.77) were associated with the slot trenches. Two stake-holes (C.43 and C.55) cut the base of C.19, they were set on opposite sides of the slot. Two stake-holes (C.64 and C.77) were located in linear C.27. Stake-hole C.60 was located to the north of linear C.11. All the stake-holes were either circular or sub-circular in plan and their dimensions ranged between 0.04 m and 0.12 m in length, 0.04 m and 0.1 m in width and 0.08 m and 0.29 m in depth.
Small flecks of burnt bone were noted in the fills of eight of the pits, slot trenches and post-holes (C.6, C.11, C21, C.27, C.28, C.37, C.47 and C.65). Animal bone was identi-fied from the hearth and two of the slot trenches (C.11, C.25 and C.28). The fill (C.26) of one of the foundation slot trenches (C.27) contained the remains of burnt human bone fragments. The fragments represented a possible juvenile. A saddle quern (E2423:36:1) was recovered from a fill of the slot C.11.
The structure could have enclosed an area of 76.5 m and the internal circumference of the house could have been 31.4 m (see Figure 7). If the entrance was located in the area between the termini of trenches C.11 and C.25 it would have faced east and measured c. 2.6 m.
Agricultural furrowsA number of furrows were located in the area of the excavation (see figure 6). They were aligned north-south and east-west and were on average 0.43 m wide and 0.08 m deep. The furrows were most probably excavated by plough due to their regular shape and spacing.
Plant remainsThe plant remains from Gortnahown 1 were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 5). A total of nine samples were examined but no plant remains were present.
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Burnt boneThe burnt bone from this site was examined by Linda Lynch (Appendix 6). One sample (S.15) from slot trench C.27 in Area 2 contained human remains. It was possibly a token deposit of some of the bones from the cremated body of a juvenile. The condition of the bone remains suggests that the bones were exposed for some time before burial. A similar condition was noted in the human remains examined from Caherdrinny 2 E2421. How-ever, the condition of these remains may also have been the result of local taphonomic conditions.
Animal bone The animal bone was examined by Margaret McCarthy (Appendix 7). There were four samples from Area 2 that contained small quantities of burnt bone. They were recovered from the fills of slot trenches C.11 and C.25 and the hearth C.28. Most of the burnt bone was possibly the residue from burning food waste.
Stone findA complete saddle quern (E2426:36:1) was examined by Sara Camplese (Appendix 4). It was recovered from the slot trench C.11 in Area 2 (Plate 10).
Plate10:ViewofsaddlequernE2423:36:1
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Radiocarbon DatingRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev 5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M. Stuiver & P.J. Re-imer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.
Lab code
Context Material Un-calibrated date
δ 13 C Calibrated 2-sigma date
Calibrated 1-sigma date
Period
UB-12980
61 Prunus from pit C.62 Area 1
3346+/-23 -26.8 cal BC 1728-1720 1691-1603 1589-1533
cal BC 1681-1615
Early Bronze Age
UB-13174
3 Hazel from pit C.4 Area 1
2015+/-24 -26.0 cal BC 88-76 55-cal AD 54
cal BC 44-cal AD 7 cal AD 11-17
Iron Age
Table5Radiocarbondates
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8 DiscussionDomestic activity from the Early Neolithic Period through to the Iron Age was recorded, over a length of 850 m, along the eastern bank of the Gradoge River in five separate cut-tings at Gortnahown 1 E2426, Gortnahown 2 E2423 and Gortnahown 3 E2477 (Figure 10). With the exception of the truncated Bronze Age structure in Gortnahown 1, no defi-nite structures were recorded. But a range of hearths, pits, post-holes, stake-holes, lithic stone tools, pottery and radiocarbon dates testify to the prolonged use of the river side location through out prehistory.
At Gortnahown 1 Area 1 was located 140 m north-east of Area 2. The features in Area 1 comprised a group of over 30 pits, post-holes and stake-holes. An Early Bronze Age date and an Iron Age date were returned from the group of features. No structure was recorded, though a group of pits defining a work space, and dating to the Early Bronze Age, were clustered together in the north-east section of the site. The rest of the features were scattered across the remainder of the area.
The features in Area 2 comprised the remains of a truncated Bronze Age structure dated on typological grounds to the Bronze Age.
Bronze AgeA concentration of pits and stake-holes around a central pit C.62 in Area 1 at Gortna-hown 1, dated to the Early Bronze Age. Similar site types were recorded in Area 1 and 2 at Gortnahown 2 E2426. One of the hearth-side activities at Gortnahown 2 was associ-ated with flint knapping but there was no direct or remaining evidence for the type of domestic activity that took place at the other hearth and pit sides.
The features in Area 2 are likely to represent the partial remains of a truncated Bronze Age house, specifically the area of the entrance of the building. The front of a number of Bronze Age houses have been recorded in the last few years, including an example at Clash E3660 and Drumroe E3773 on the route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Con-tract 1).
If the line of a foundation trench were projected, from the slot trenches C.11 and C.25, the structure could have enclosed an area of 76.5 m and the internal circumference of the house could have been 31.4 m. The structure was defined to the east by a founda-tion trench which probably held planks, or panels of wattle and daub, that formed the walls of the house. The entrance to the house probably faced east and measured 2.6m.
One of the external slot trenches was located perpendicular to the foundation slot trench and may have been a drip gully for the overhang of a roof. It is difficult to be cer-tain about the function of the other three external slot trenches. They were all located in the area of the entrance. Two were set perpendicular to the main circuit of the structure. The third was parallel to the main circuit and was located between the other two. They may have formed part of a porch or annex at the entrance
Four post-holes and four pits were located within the interior of the structure. One was likely to be a centrally located hearth.
Gradoge (River)
130
120
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
120
180675
180675
181040
181040
1092
75
1092
75
1099
80
1099
80
0 250 m
¢
Gortnahown 1Area 2
Gortnahown 1Area 1
Gortnahown 2Area 1 & 2
Gortnahown 2Area 3
Gortnahown 2Area 4
Gortnahown 2Area 5
Gortnahown 3
Gortnahown 1-E2423
27
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2423-gortnahown1-co-cork/
Figure10:TopographicalmapshowingthelocationofGortnahown1E2423,Gortnahown2E2426andGortnahown3E2477�
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
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A small sample of burnt human bone was retrieved from one of the slot trenches. The bone was possibly a token deposit of some of the bones from the cremated body of a juve-nile. Evidence of ritual deposition of bone was recorded at the entrance to two structures at Cloghabreedy (site 125.4) on the route of the N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown (McQuade 2009, 87) and in the interior of one of the structures at Derrybane E3591 in Co. Tipper-ary (McGowan 2010).
Other comparative Bronze Age houses with foundation trenches on the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown include excavated examples at Kilshanny 1 and Ballynamona 2.
Site/Structure E No. Area (m2) Date/PeriodKilshanny 1 E2430 65 Early Bronze AgeBallynamona 2 Structure 1 E2429 69.36 Middle Bronze AgeBallynamona 2 Structure 2 E2429 73.86 No date available
Table6BronzeAgehousesontheN8FermoyMitchelstown
The construction of the house at Kilshanny, comprised a gully that appears to have acted as a foundation trench for a plank wall and some internal support posts to hold the roof up. Another house excavated nearby at Ballynamona 2 also contained a foundation trench for planks or panels and internal post-holes for roof supports.
A recent survey of Bronze Age houses in southern Ireland lists a total of 33 round houses (Doody 2007, 86–7). The discoveries from the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown, one round house at Kilshanny 1 E2430, two at Ballynamona 2 E2429 and a partial round-house at Gortnahown 1 E2426 add another four houses to the list. These round houses reflect the predominant trend in the domestic architecture of the Bronze Age, but the general masks a diversity in house size, internal pattern and construction materials. In Britain there appears to be a number of regionally distinct house styles (Doody 2007, 97) but there is no established evidence for regional variation amongst Irish examples as yet. However, a pattern of axial symmetry has been recorded in several houses excavated in Tipperary and North Cork (Tierney and Johnston, 2009). A similar phenomenon has also been identified in Britain (Guilbert 1982, 68– 9; Brück 1999). These buildings were all post built.
Gortnahown 1-E2423
29
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2423-gortnahown1-co-cork/
9 ReferencesBrück, J 1999 ‘Houses, lifecycles and deposition on Middle Bronze Age settlements in
Southern England’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, Vol. 65, 145 – 166.
Cotter, E., Buckley, K. & Drumm, M. (2006) ‘N8 Fermoy Mitchelstown Phase 1 – final archaeological testing report’, unpublished report for licence no. 05E1150.
Cotter, E. (2005) ‘Bronze Age Ballybrowney Co. Cork’, Recent Archaeological Discoveries on National Road Schemes 2004. National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. 2. Dublin.
Daly, A. and Grogan, E (1992) ‘Excavation of Four Barrows in Mitchelstowndown West, Knocklong, Co. Limerick’, Discovery Programme Reports 1. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.
Doody, M. (1995) ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 2, 12-44. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.
Gardiner, M.J. Radford,T. (1980) Soil Associations of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. An Foras Talúntais.
Gowen, M. (1988) Three Irish Gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Wordwell. Dublin.
Guilbert, G 1982 ‘Post-ring symmetry in roundhouses at Moel y Gaer and some other sites in prehistoric Britain’, in P J Drury (ed), Structural Recognition: approaches to the interpretation of excavated remains of buildings, 67 – 86. British Archaeological Reports 110.
McGowan, L. and O’Mahony. E. (2010) Final excavation report of Derrybane 2 E3585. Unpublished report, Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
McQuade, M. Molloy, B and Moriarty, C. (2009) In the Shadow of the Galtees Archaeological Excavations along the N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown Road Scheme. National Roads Authority, Dublin.
Power, D., Lane, S. and Byrne, E., Egan, U., Sleeman, M., with Cotter, E., Monk, J. (2000) Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 4: North Cork Parts I & II. The Stationery Office. Dublin.
Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks,
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R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. (2004) ‘IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP’, Radiocarbon 46, 1029-1058.
Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. (1993) ‘Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program’, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.
Sherlock, R. (2003) ‘Killdonoghoe’ Bennett, I. (Ed) Excavations 2001. Wordwell. Bray.
Sleeman, A.G., & McConnell,B. (1995) Geology of East Cork-Waterford. Geological Survey of Ireland.
Tierney, J. and Johnston, P. (2009) ‘No corners! Prehistoric round houses on N8 & N7 road projects in Cork, Tipperary and Offaly,’ in Stanley, M. and O’Sullivan, J. (eds.) Dining and Dwelling. Dublin, National Roads Authority, Monograph Series No. 6.
Woodman, P. McCarthy, M. and Monaghan, N.T. 1997 ‘The Irish Quaternary Fauna Project’, Quaternary Science Reviews Vol. 16, No.2 129-159.
Woodman, P.C. (1989) ‘The Mesolithic in Munster: a preliminary assessment’. Bonsall, C. (Ed) The Mesolithic in Europe 116-124. John Donald. Edinburgh.
Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson 1-10. Wordwell. Bray.
.
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
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App
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iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
32
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35
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(pos
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0.61
x 0
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0.15
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
33
Con
text
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plan
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19
42St
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421
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brow
n sil
ty c
lay.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
angu
lar,
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s; sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.98
x 0
.48
x 0.
18
46Pi
t Fill
(pos
s)41
4041
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
yel
low
ish b
row
n sa
ndy
silt.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f co
arse
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
sub-
angu
lar
pebb
les a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.54
x 0
.35
x 0.
10
47St
akeh
ole
(pos
s)47
4741
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id y
ello
wish
gre
y sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
char
coal
flec
ks. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope
steep
ly a
nd a
re c
onca
ve. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n; ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.07
x 0
.07
x 0.
15
48Pi
t Cut
4545
2Su
b-re
ctan
gula
r in
plan
. Cor
ners
are
roun
ded
on N
and
W; s
quar
e else
-w
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
is gr
adua
l on
N; s
harp
else
whe
re. S
ides
are
co
ncav
e, slo
ping
ver
tical
ly o
n W
; ste
eply
on
E; m
oder
ately
on
S an
d ge
ntly
on
N. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s sha
rp. B
ase i
s sub
-rect
angu
lar i
n pl
an; f
lat
in p
rofil
e.
0.98
x 0
.48
x 0.
18
50Po
stho
le Fi
ll (p
oss)
551
55So
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
brow
n sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.20
x 0
.18 x
0.1
2
52St
akeh
ole
(pos
s)52
521
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed b
row
n sil
t. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
and
base
. Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally
and
are
smoo
th. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan;
po
inte
d in
pro
file.
0.10
x 0
.10
x 0.
09
53Pi
t Fill
5458
54So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n cl
ayey
silt.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e su
b-an
gula
r, su
b-ro
unde
d an
d ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f m
ediu
m a
nd c
oars
e peb
bles
, sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes a
nd
smal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces.
1.45
x 0
.74
x 0.
18
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
34
Con
text
C
onte
xt T
ype
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
h St
rat a
bove
Stra
t bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)54
Pit C
ut53
, 58
532
Irre
gula
r in
plan
. Cor
ners
are
squa
re o
n N
E, S
E an
d N
W; r
ound
ed
else
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at to
p is
shar
p on
N, S
, NE
and
SW; g
radu
al
else
whe
re. S
ides
are
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
N; c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng
gent
ly o
n W
; and
irre
gula
r, slo
ping
gen
tly el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is
grad
ual.
Base
is ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an; c
onca
ve in
pro
file.
Trun
cate
d by
C58
on
S.
1.45
x 0
.74
x 0.
18
55St
akeh
ole
(pos
s)50
502
Sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
an
d ba
se. S
ides
slop
e ste
eply
and
are
con
cave
. Bas
e is s
ub-c
ircul
ar in
pla
n;
conc
ave i
n pr
ofile
.
0.20
x 0
.18 x
0.1
2
56St
akeh
ole
(pos
s)56
5641
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id y
ello
wish
gre
y sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
char
coal
flec
ks. S
ub-c
ircul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slop
e ste
eply
and
are
smoo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan;
tape
red
roun
ded
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.10
x 0
.10
x 0.
07
57St
akeh
ole
(pos
s)57
5741
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id y
ello
wish
gre
y sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
char
coal
flec
ks. S
ub-c
ircul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slop
e ste
eply
and
are
smoo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan;
tape
red
roun
ded
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.08
x 0
.08
x 0.
08
58St
akeh
ole
5858
153
Loos
ely c
ompa
cted
dar
k br
own
silty
sand
. Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
pebb
les a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p an
d ba
se. S
ides
slop
e ver
tical
ly a
nd a
re sm
ooth
. Bas
e is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n;
tape
red
poin
t in
prof
ile. I
nclin
ed E
.
0.10
x 0
.08
x 0.
12
59Pi
t Fill
601
60Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh b
row
n sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
smal
l and
m
ediu
m c
harc
oal p
iece
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
1.02
x 0
.56
x 0.
07
60Pi
t Cut
5959
2O
val i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. G
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
slo
pe g
ently
and
are
smoo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le. B
ase i
s ov
al in
pla
n; fl
at in
pro
file.
1.02
x 0
.56
x 0.
07
61Pi
t Fill
621
62Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh b
row
n sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
cha
rcoa
l fle
cks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
1.65
x 0
.70
x 0.
12
62Pi
t Cut
6161
2Ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is sh
arp
on
SE a
nd g
radu
al el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
stee
ply
on S
E; a
nd
gent
ly el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al o
n SE
; and
impe
rcep
tible
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s irr
egul
ar in
pla
n; fl
at in
pro
file.
1.65
x 0
.70
x 0.
12
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
35
Con
text
C
onte
xt T
ype
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
h St
rat a
bove
Stra
t bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)63
Pit F
ill64
164
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
gre
yish
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns
of fi
ne a
nd m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les a
nd c
harc
oal
fleck
s.
0.45
x 0
.25
x 0.
17
64Pi
t Cut
6363
2O
val i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is g
radu
al o
n SE
and
shar
p el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re u
nder
cut,
slopi
ng v
ertic
ally
on
NW
; sm
ooth
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely o
n SE
; and
con
cave
, slo
ping
stee
ply
else
whe
re.
Brea
k of
slop
e at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le on
SE;
gra
dual
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n; c
onca
ve in
pro
file.
0.45
x 0
.25
x 0.
17
65Po
stho
le Fi
ll66
166
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
bro
wn
clay
ey si
lt. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar, s
ub-a
ngul
ar, s
ub-ro
unde
d an
d ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. M
oder
-at
e inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s.
0.35
x 0
.18 x
0.17
66Po
stho
le C
ut65
652
Sub-
rect
angu
lar i
n pl
an. C
orne
rs a
re ro
unde
d on
N a
nd S
; squ
are e
lse-
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at to
p is
grad
ual o
n N
; sha
rp el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re
stepp
ed, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
NW
; sm
ooth
, slo
ping
stee
ply
on N
E; a
nd
conc
ave,
slopi
ng st
eepl
y el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al o
n S,
W, S
W a
nd N
W; a
nd sh
arp
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s sub
-circ
ular
in p
lan;
co
ncav
e in
prof
ile.
0.35
x 0
.18 x
0.17
67Pi
t Fill
681
68Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed d
ark
grey
ish b
row
n sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e,
med
ium
and
coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s.; sm
all s
ub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes a
nd sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s. M
oder
ate
inclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.50
x 0
.50
x 0.
18
68Pi
t Cut
6767
2C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope m
oder
ately
and
ar
e con
cave
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan;
co
ncav
e in
prof
ile.
0.50
x 0
.50
x 0.
18
69Pi
t Fill
701
70Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed d
ark
grey
ish b
row
n sil
t. Fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns o
f med
ium
su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
oars
e sub
-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les;
smal
l sub
-ang
ular
and
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s; an
d sm
all,
med
ium
and
larg
e cha
rcoa
l pi
eces
.
1.47
x 1
.0 x
0.3
2
70Pi
t Cut
6969
2O
val i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slop
e m
oder
ately
and
are
con
cave
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ova
l in
pla
n; c
onca
ve in
pro
file.
1.47
x 1
.0 x
0.3
2
73Po
stho
le Fi
ll74
174
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les a
nd sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s. M
oder
ate
inclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.20
x 0
.20
x 0.
17
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
36
Con
text
C
onte
xt T
ype
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
h St
rat a
bove
Stra
t bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)74
Post
hole
Cut
7373
2C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally
and
are
sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan;
con
cave
in
pro
file.
0.20
x 0
.20
x 0.
17
77Po
stho
le Fi
ll78
178
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
, and
smal
l and
med
ium
pie
ces.
Freq
uent
inclu
sions
of l
arge
ch
arco
al p
iece
s.
0.25
x 0
.25
x 0.
32
78Po
stho
le C
ut77
772
Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
slop
e ver
tical
ly a
nd a
re
smoo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
on
N a
nd S
; sha
rp el
sew
here
. Ba
se is
ova
l in
plan
; poi
nted
in p
rofil
e.
0.25
x 0
.25
x 0.
32
79H
eart
h Fi
ll (p
oss)
801
89So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
lack
sand
y cl
ay. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e an-
gula
r and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es; a
nd sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks, s
mal
l and
med
ium
pie
ces.
0.76
x 0
.72
x 0.
07
80H
eart
h C
ut
(pos
s)79
, 89
892
Sub-
tria
ngul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is
impe
rcep
tible
on S
and
W; g
radu
al o
n N
E, S
E an
d N
W; s
harp
else
whe
re.
Side
s slo
pe m
oder
ately
and
are
con
vex
on N
W a
nd c
onca
ve el
sew
here
. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is g
radu
al o
n N
, NE
and
SE; a
nd im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Bas
e is s
ub-tr
iang
ular
in p
lan;
flat
in p
rofil
e.
0.88
x 0
.85
x 0.
14
81Pi
t Fill
821
93So
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
brow
nish
bla
ck si
lt. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e an
d m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
1.10
x 0
.15 x
0.2
0
82Pi
t Cut
81, 9
3, 9
4,
95, 9
6, 9
796
2Ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an w
ith sq
uare
cor
ners
. Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
ar
e und
ercu
t, slo
ping
ver
tical
ly o
n N
E; ir
regu
lar,
slopi
ng st
eepl
y on
NW
an
d co
nvex
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is s
harp
on
NE
and
NW
; and
gra
dual
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s irr
egul
ar in
pla
n; ta
pere
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
1.90
x 1
.0 x
0.7
5
83Pi
t Fill
881
84St
iffly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh b
row
n sil
ty c
lay.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les,
smal
l sub
-ang
ular
ston
es
and
smal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces.
1.92
x 1
.25
x 0.
19
84Pi
t Fill
8883
85Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id o
rang
ish re
d sa
ndy
clay
. 1.
40 x
0.5
5 x
0.27
85Pi
t Fill
8884
86St
iffly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh b
row
n sto
ny c
lay.
Freq
uent
inclu
sions
of
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes.
1.30
x 1
.12
x 0.
30
86Pi
t Fill
8885
87So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh b
row
n sil
ty c
lay.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
char
coal
flec
ks.
1.28
x 1
.22
x 0.
22
87Pi
t Fill
8886
88So
ftly
com
pact
ed p
inki
sh w
hite
silty
cla
y.0.
72 x
0.5
5 x
0.14
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
37
Con
text
C
onte
xt T
ype
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
h St
rat a
bove
Stra
t bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)88
Pit C
ut83
, 84,
85,
86
, 87
872
Ova
l in
plan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Brea
k of
slop
e at t
op is
shar
p on
N,
W a
nd N
W; g
radu
al el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
S; sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly o
n E;
and
irre
gula
r, slo
ping
stee
ply
else
whe
re.
Brea
k of
slop
e at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is o
val i
n pl
an; t
aper
ed b
lunt
poi
nt
in p
rofil
e.
2.10
x 1
.85
x 0.
64
89H
eart
h Fi
ll (p
oss)
8079
80So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n sa
ndy
clay
. Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine a
n-gu
lar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
; and
smal
l ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal.
0.88
x 0
.85
x 0.
14
90Pi
t Fill
921
91Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
nish
gre
y cl
ayey
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
smal
l sub
-ang
ular
and
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of m
e-di
um a
nd c
oars
e sub
-ang
ular
and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
an
d sm
all p
iece
s.
1.42
x 0
.52
x 0.
16
91Pi
t Fill
9290
92So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id o
rang
ish g
rey
clay
ey si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
1.44
x 0
.52
x 0.
10
92Pi
t Cut
90, 9
191
2Ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is g
radu
al o
n SW
and
NW
; sha
rp el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely o
n N
; sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly o
n W
; and
con
cave
, slo
ping
stee
ply
else
whe
re.
Brea
k of
slop
e at b
ase i
s gra
dual
on
N, W
, SW
and
NW
; sha
rp el
sew
here
. Ba
se is
irre
gula
r in
plan
; fla
t in
prof
ile.
1.44
x 0
.52
x 0.
26
93Pi
t Fill
8281
, 97
94Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n cl
ay. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar, s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s; sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd
sub-
angu
lar a
nd m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar st
ones
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all
piec
es.
1.40
x 0
.30
x 0.
38
94Pi
t Fill
8293
95So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
nish
bla
ck si
lty c
lay.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s; sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d an
d la
rge a
ngul
ar st
ones
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
0.60
x 0
.60
x 0.
08
95Pi
t Fill
8294
96So
ftly
com
pact
ed li
ght b
row
nish
yel
low
silty
sand
. Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine
ang
ular
, sub
-ang
ular
and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les;
smal
l ang
ular
and
su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
1.04
x 0
.85
x 0.
32
96Pi
t Fill
8295
82St
iffly
com
pact
ed li
ght o
rang
ish w
hite
cla
y. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
. 1.
45 x
0.5
0 x
0.09
97Pi
t Fill
821
93Lo
osely
com
pact
ed li
ght o
rang
ish y
ello
w sa
nd. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e sub
-ang
ular
, sub
-roun
ded
and
roun
ded
pebb
les.
0.67
x 0
.17 x
0.3
6
98H
eart
h Fi
ll1
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed b
lack
cla
yey
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-a
ngu-
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. 1.
0 x
1.0
x 0.
05
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
38
Are
a 2
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)
3C
ut o
f pit
4, 1
0.4
3Su
b-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n, c
orne
rs a
re ro
unde
d; b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p is
shar
p.
Side
s are
smoo
th ,
slopi
ng v
ertic
ally.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is s
harp
on
S,
E an
d SE
and
gra
dual
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s sub
-circ
ular
in p
lan
and
conc
ave
in p
rofil
e. Tr
unca
ted
by a
nim
al b
urro
ws i
n se
vera
l pla
ces.
0.51
x 0
.44
x 0.
35
4Fi
ll of
pit
33
110
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k gr
eyish
-bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; fre
quen
t inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes,
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f peb
bles
and
sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s and
occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar st
ones
an
d ch
arco
al fl
ecks
.
0.43
x 0
.25
x 0.
11
5Fi
ll of
pit
66
2330
Com
pact
dar
k gr
eyish
-bla
ck sa
nd; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
an
gula
r and
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s and
smal
l bur
nt b
one p
iece
s, fre
quen
t in
clusio
ns o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s and
mod
erat
e in
clusio
ns o
f bur
nt b
one f
lecks
.
0.52
x 0
.44
x 0.
35
6C
ut o
f pit
5, 2
3, 3
030
2Su
b-ov
al in
pla
n, ro
unde
d co
rner
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
are
un
derc
ut, s
lopi
ng v
ertic
ally
on
N a
nd S
and
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng v
ertic
ally
el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ova
l in
plan
and
flat
in
pro
file.
Trun
cate
d by
pos
sible
post
hole,
C.1
6, at
E.
0.70
x 0
.43
x 0.
43
7Fi
ll of
pit
88
18
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
to d
ark
grey
ish-b
row
n sli
ghtly
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
n-al
inclu
sions
of m
ediu
m a
nd c
oars
e ang
ular
peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.90
x 0
.35
x 0.
15
8C
ut o
f pit
77
2O
val i
n pl
an. S
W si
de is
irre
gula
r, slo
ping
gen
tly, N
E an
d SE
are
smoo
th,
slopi
ng m
oder
ately
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ova
l in
plan
an
d fla
t in
prof
ile.
0.90
x 0
.35
x 0.
15
9Fi
ll of
pit
1111
7136
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
dar
k gr
eyish
-bro
wn
silty
cla
y; fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns o
f co
arse
ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes,
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar
stone
s and
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
1.12
x 0
.80
x 0.
14
10Fi
ll of
pit
33
43
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
pin
kish
-bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
med
ium
ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es a
nd o
ccas
iona
l in
clusio
ns o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
0.48
x 0
.42
x 0.
25
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
39
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)11
Cut
of l
inea
r pi
t9,
33,
12,
36
, 45.
36, 4
5, 1
2.2
Line
ar in
pla
n, ro
unde
d co
rner
s; br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is sh
arp
on N
E,
NW
, SE
and
E an
d gr
adua
l else
whe
re. S
ides
are
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng m
oder
-at
ely o
n E
and
gent
ly el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ov
al in
pla
n an
d fla
t in
prof
ile. T
runc
ated
by
furr
ow, C
.71
at S
W-S
E of
pi
t.
3.64
x 0
.80
x 0.
18
12Fi
ll of
pit
1111
7111
Stiff
dar
k gr
eyish
-bro
wn
clay
ey si
lt; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all a
ngul
ar
and
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s and
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
and
coa
rse
angu
lar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
0.84
x 0
.80
x 0.
09
13C
ut o
f po
stho
le14
142
Ova
l in
plan
, rou
nded
cor
ners
; sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
slop
e ve
rtic
ally
and
are
smoo
th to
con
cave
in sh
ape.
Brea
k of
slop
e at b
ase i
s gr
adua
l. Ba
se is
ova
l in
plan
and
flat
in p
rofil
e.
0.34
x 0
.30
x 0.
22
14Fi
ll of
pos
t-ho
le 13
131
13W
eakl
y ce
men
ted
mid
bro
wni
sh-g
rey
silty
sand
; occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s and
m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
ch
arco
al fl
ecks
.
0.34
x 0
.30
x 0.
22
15Fi
ll of
pos
t-ho
le 16
161
16C
ompa
ct m
id g
rey
silty
sand
; fre
quen
t inc
lusio
ns o
f coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar
and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les,
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
sub-
angu
lar
and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les a
nd m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-a
ngul
ar
and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.38
x 0
.29
x 0.
17
16C
ut o
f po
stho
le15
1523
Ova
l in
plan
, cor
ners
are
roun
ded.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
is sh
arp.
Sid
es a
re
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng st
eepl
y on
S a
nd v
ertic
ally
else
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at
base
is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ova
l in
plan
and
con
cave
in p
rofil
e.
0.38
x 0
.29
x 0.
17
17C
ut o
f pit
1818
2Su
b-re
ctan
gula
r in
plan
, rou
nded
cor
ners
, sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p an
d ba
se. S
ides
are
con
cave
, slo
ping
gen
tly o
n N
and
mod
erat
ely el
sew
here
. Ba
se is
ova
l in
plan
and
flat
in p
rofil
e.
1.69
x 0
.61
x 0.
14
18Fi
ll of
pit
1717
117
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
ligh
t bro
wn
silty
cla
y; m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of m
ediu
m
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s, sm
all s
tone
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
1.69
x 0
.61
x 0.
14
19C
ut o
f lin
ear
feat
ure
20, 3
2.20
54Li
near
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
ste
eply
on
N a
nd v
ertic
ally
else
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Ba
se is
ova
l in
plan
and
flat
in p
rofil
e. Tr
unca
ted
by fu
rrow
, C.3
1 on
SW
.
2.70
x 0
.50
x 0.
20
20Fi
ll of
line
ar
feat
ure 1
919
3119
Com
pact
dar
k br
own
stony
sand
; fre
quen
t inc
lusip
ons o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar
pebb
les a
nd m
ediu
m a
nd la
rge a
ngul
ar st
ones
and
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
2.70
x 0
.50
x 0.
20
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
40
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)21
Cut
of p
it22
, 34,
35.
352
Ova
l in
plan
, rou
nded
cor
ners
, gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
and
base
. Si
des a
re c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
NW
and
stee
ply
else
whe
re. B
ase
is ov
al in
pla
n an
d co
ncav
e in
prof
ile. T
runc
ated
by
furr
ow, C
.51, a
t S.
1.25
x 0
.85
x 0.
36
22Fi
ll of
pit
2121
5134
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
gre
yish
-bro
wn
silty
cla
y; fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns
of c
oars
e sub
-ang
ular
peb
bles
and
smal
l sub
-ang
ular
ston
es, m
oder
ate
inclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
, sm
all p
iece
s and
bur
nt b
one f
lecks
and
oc-
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of s
mal
l bur
nt b
one p
iece
s.
0.95
x 0
.85
x 0.
10
23Fi
ll of
pit
66
165
Com
pact
dar
k gr
ey sa
nd; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es, s
mal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces a
nd b
urnt
bon
e flec
ks a
nd
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes a
nd c
har-
coal
flec
ks.
0.37
x 0
.35
x 0.
20
24Fi
ll of
line
ar
feat
ure 2
525
148
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k br
owni
sh-b
lack
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
med
ium
ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es, s
mal
l ang
ular
and
su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes a
nd m
ediu
m c
harc
oal p
iece
s, m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of
smal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces a
nd fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
2.80
x 0
.30
x 0.
18
25C
ut o
f lin
ear
feat
ure
48, 2
4.48
2Li
near
in p
lan,
roun
ded
corn
ers;
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es a
re
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
W, s
teep
ly o
n N
and
ver
tical
ly el
sew
here
. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is s
harp
on
W, N
E an
d N
W a
nd g
radu
al el
sew
here
. Ba
se is
irre
gula
r in
plan
and
has
a ta
pere
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
2.90
x 0
.40
x 0.
20
26Fi
ll of
line
ar
feat
ure 2
727
127
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k br
owni
sh-g
rey
pebb
ly, sa
ndy
silt;
frequ
ent i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es, c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pi
eces
, mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
rsto
nes a
nd
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
cha
rcoa
l pie
ces a
nd b
urnt
bon
e flec
ks.
3 x
0.37
x 0
.20
27C
ut o
f lin
ear
feat
ure
2626
29Li
near
in p
lan,
roun
ded
corn
ers;
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op is
gra
dual
on
W
and
shar
p el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
N, v
erti-
cally
on
SE a
nd g
ently
on
SW a
nd W
, and
step
ped,
slop
ing
vert
ical
ly at
to
p an
d m
oder
ately
at b
ase o
n E.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al o
n N
an
d im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Bas
e is l
inea
r in
plan
and
con
cave
in p
rofil
e.
3 x
0.37
x 0
.20
28C
ut o
f pos
-sib
le pi
t41
, 42,
43,
44
, 62
432
Ova
l in
plan
, rou
nded
cor
ners
, sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
are
un-
derc
ut, s
lopi
ng v
ertic
ally
on
N, S
and
W a
nd sm
ooth
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely
on E
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is s
harp
on
S an
d SW
, gra
dual
on
N, W
and
N
W a
nd im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Bas
e is i
rreg
ular
in p
lan
and
irreg
ular
in
pro
file.
1.60
x 1
.12
x 0.
40
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
41
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)29
Dep
osit
272
Wea
kly
cem
ente
d to
com
pact
nid
ora
ngish
-gre
y sil
ty sa
nd; f
requ
ent
inclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s, m
oder
ate i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f med
ium
and
coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of s
mal
l sub
-ang
ular
and
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s and
ch
arco
al fl
ecks
.
3 x
0.60
x 0
.20
30Fi
ll of
pit
66
56
Com
pact
ligh
t ora
ngish
-bro
wn
silty
sand
; occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
angu
lar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.40
x 0
.30
x 0.
35
31C
ut o
f fu
rrow
3232
2Li
near
in p
lan,
squa
re c
orne
rs; s
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
and
base
. Sid
es
slope
mod
erat
ely a
nd a
re c
onca
ve. B
ase i
s sub
-rect
angu
lar i
n pl
an a
nd fl
at
in p
rofil
e.
18.1
0 x
0.43
x 0
.08
32Fi
ll of
fur-
row
31
311
31Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n cl
ayey
silt;
occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
and
med
ium
peb
bles
and
smal
l sto
nes.
18.1
0 x
0.43
x 0
.08
33Fi
ll of
pit
1111
7136
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
dar
k gr
eyish
-bro
wn
clay
ey si
lt; m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of
fine
and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
cha
rcoa
l fle
cks a
nd o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f bur
nt b
one f
lecks
.
1.61
x 0
.80
x 0.
06
34Fi
ll of
pit
2121
2235
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
gre
yish
-bro
wn
stony
, silt
y cl
ay; f
requ
ent i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar st
ones
, mod
er-
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces a
nd o
ccas
iona
l inc
lu-
sions
of b
urnt
bon
e flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
1.05
x 0
.75
x 0.
18
35Fi
ll of
pit
2121
3421
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
bro
wni
sh-g
rey
stony
, silt
y cl
ay; f
requ
ent i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar st
ones
.0.
87 x
0.6
2 x
0.12
36Fi
ll of
pit
1111
9, 3
3.45
, 11.
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
gre
yish
-bro
wn
clay
ey si
lt; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f m
ediu
m a
nd c
oars
e ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es, c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
bu
rnt b
one f
lecks
.
2.60
x 0
.63
x 0.
08
37C
ut o
f pit
38, 3
9.38
2O
val i
n pl
an, r
ound
ed c
orne
rs; s
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope
steep
ly a
nd a
re c
onca
ve. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is o
val i
n pl
an a
nd fl
at in
pro
file.
1.54
x 0
.84
x 0.
22
38Fi
ll of
pit
3737
3937
Com
pact
, dar
k gr
ey si
lty sa
nd; f
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
oars
e ang
ular
and
su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar
and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces
and
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar st
ones
, med
ium
cha
rcoa
l pi
eces
and
bur
nt b
one f
lecks
.
1.54
x 0
.84
x 0.
22
39Fi
ll of
pit
3737
138
Stiff
, dar
k br
owni
sh-g
rey
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine a
nd
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
1.10
x 0
.84
x 0.
15
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
42
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)40
Spre
ad1
41So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id to
dar
k gr
eyish
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f coa
rse s
ub-a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
mod
erat
e in
clusio
ns o
f med
ium
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es, s
mal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces a
nd
fleck
s and
smal
l pie
ces o
f oxi
dise
d m
ater
ial.
1 x
0.65
x 0
.10
41Fi
ll of
pit
2828
4044
Very
softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bla
ck sa
ndy
silt;
frequ
ent i
nclu
sions
of s
mal
l sto
nes,
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f peb
bles
and
occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of c
har-
coal
flec
ks.
1.10
x 0
.90
x 0.
19
42Fi
ll of
pit
2828
6243
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k bl
ack
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of c
oars
e pe
bble
s, m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar st
ones
, sm
all s
tone
s, sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s and
po
ssib
le bu
rnt b
one f
lecks
and
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
med
ium
pe
bble
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
1.39
x 1
.10
x 0.
35
43Fi
ll of
pit
2828
4228
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
ligh
t gre
yish
-bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
pebb
les a
nd sm
all a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes.
0.90
x 0
.60
x 0.
15
44Fi
ll of
pit
2828
4162
Com
pact
mid
pin
kish
-bro
wn
sand
y cl
ay; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e an
d m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es.
0.47
x 0
.23
x 0.
13
45Fi
ll of
pit
1111
3611
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wn
clay
ey si
lt; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e sub
-an
gula
r peb
bles
, cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s.0.
31 x
0.5
4 x
0.06
46Fi
ll of
pit
4747
147
Com
pact
dar
k gr
eyish
-bro
wn
sand
; mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
an
d su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of b
urnt
bon
e flec
ks a
nd
frequ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
.
0.34
x 0
.23
x 0.
10
47C
ut o
f pit
4646
49Ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an, r
ound
ed c
orne
rs, s
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es
slope
ver
tical
ly a
nd a
re sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s irr
egul
ar in
pla
n an
d irr
egul
ar in
pro
file.
0.34
x 0
.23
x 0.
10
48Fi
ll of
line
ar
feat
ure 2
525
2425
Fria
ble l
ight
yel
low
ish-b
row
n sa
ndy
silt;
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e and
m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
2.90
x 0
.30
x 0.
20
49Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 50
501
50C
ompa
ct d
ark
brow
n sa
nd; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
peb
bles
an
d ch
arco
al fl
ecks
.0.
06 x
0.0
6 x
0.09
50C
ut o
f sta
keho
le49
492
Circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
ve
rtic
ally.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
ha
s a ta
pere
d bl
unt p
oint
in p
rofil
e. Tr
unca
ted
by p
it, C
.47.
0.06
x 0
.06
x 0.
09
51C
ut o
f Fu
rrow
52
52Fi
ll of
fur-
row
51
51
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
43
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)53
Cut
of
stake
-hol
e54
542
Circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally.
Bre
ak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
conc
ave i
n pr
ofile
. Tr
unca
ted
by li
near
feat
ure (
C.19
).
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
08
54Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 53
5319
53C
ompa
ct m
id b
row
n sil
ty sa
nd; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f peb
bles
and
ch
arco
al.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
08
55C
ut o
f sta
keho
le56
562
Circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es a
ll slo
pe v
ertic
ally.
Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
conc
ave i
n pr
ofile
.
0.04
x 0
.04
x 0.
11
56Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 55
551
55C
ompa
ct li
ght b
row
n sil
ty sa
nd; o
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f peb
bles
and
ch
arco
al.
0.04
x 0
.04
x0.11
57La
yer
58C
ut o
f sta
keho
le59
592
Ova
l in
plan
, sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
slop
e ste
eply
and
are
ir-
regu
lar o
n E,
und
ercu
t on
W, s
moo
th o
n N
and
step
ped
on S
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al; b
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
has a
tape
red
roun
ded
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.12
x 0
.07
x 0.
12
59Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 58
581
58So
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
oran
gish
-gre
y sa
ndy
silt;
frequ
ent i
nclu
sions
of
fine a
nd m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
Incl
ined
E.
0.12
x 0
.07
x 0.
12
60C
ut o
f sta
keho
le61
612
Circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally.
Bre
ak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
conc
ave i
n pr
ofile
. Tr
unca
ted
by fu
rrow
, C.51
, on
N.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
12
61Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 60
6051
60Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed m
id g
reyi
sh-b
row
n sil
ty c
lay.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
12
62Fi
ll of
pit
2828
4442
Har
d lig
ht y
ello
wish
-bro
wn
sand
y sil
t.1.
61 x
0.1
2 x
0.07
63Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 64
6427
64Ve
ry so
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
oran
gish
-bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; m
oder
ate i
nclu
-sio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
peb
bles
and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
20
64C
ut o
f sta
keho
le63
632
Circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally
and
are
sm
ooth
. Bas
e is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d pr
ofile
. Tru
ncat
ed b
y lin
ear f
eatu
re, C
.27.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
20
65C
ut o
f pit
66. 7
5, 6
7,
73, 7
2, 7
4.75
, 67.
2C
urvi
linea
r in
plan
, rou
nded
cor
ners
; bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
is gr
adua
l on
W a
nd sh
arp
else
whe
re. S
ides
are
und
ercu
t, slo
ping
stee
ply
on E
, con
vex,
slo
ping
stee
ply
on W
and
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng v
ertic
ally
else
whe
re. B
reak
of
slope
at b
ase i
s sha
rp o
n S,
impe
rcep
tible
on E
and
gra
dual
else
whe
re.
Base
is ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an a
nd fl
at in
pro
file.
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
44
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)66
Fill
of p
it 65
651
73Fi
rmly
com
pact
ed li
ght b
row
n sa
ndy
silt;
frequ
ent i
nclu
sions
of f
ine,
me-
dium
and
coa
rse a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all a
ngul
ar st
ones
and
occ
asio
nal
inclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
0.80
x 0
.67
x 0.
13
67Fi
ll of
pit
6565
7265
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
ligh
t yel
low
ish, b
row
nish
-gre
y sa
ndy
clay
; mod
erat
e in
clusio
ns o
f fin
e and
med
ium
ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es a
nd o
c-ca
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
smal
l ch
arco
al p
iece
s.
1.15
x 0
.31
x 0.
15
68C
ut o
f sta
keho
le69
692
Sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es sl
ope v
ertic
ally.
Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is s
harp
on
E an
d im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Bas
e is
sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan
and
has a
tape
red
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
14
69Fi
ll of
stak
e-ho
le 68
681
68Fr
iabl
e to
soft
dark
bro
wni
sh-b
lack
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
char
coal
flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.0.
05 x
0.0
5 x
0.14
70Fi
ll of
fur-
row
71
7170
71
71C
ut o
f fu
rrow
7070
12, 9
, 33.
72Fi
ll of
pit
6565
7375
, 67.
Wea
kly
cem
ente
d m
id g
reyi
sh-b
row
n sil
ty sa
nd; f
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of
fine a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of a
ngul
ar
and
sub-
angu
lar s
mal
l sto
nes a
nd m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
an
d sm
all p
iece
s.
1.60
x 0
.40
x 0.
15
73Fi
ll of
pit
6565
66, 7
4.72
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t; oc
casio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
and
coar
se su
b-an
gula
r and
ang
ular
peb
bles
, sm
all a
ngul
ar st
ones
and
bu
rnt b
one f
lecks
and
mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f sm
all a
nd m
ediu
m c
harc
oal
piec
es.
0.90
x 0
.13
x 0.
25
74Fi
ll of
pit
6565
173
Firm
ly c
ompa
cted
mid
yel
low
ish-b
row
n sa
ndy
silt;
occa
siona
l inc
lusio
ns
of fi
ne a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r and
med
ium
ang
ular
peb
bles
and
smal
l an
gula
r hea
t-affe
cted
ston
es a
nd m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
an
d sm
all p
iece
s.
0.80
x 0
.30
x 0.
50
75Fi
ll of
pit
6565
7265
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k br
own
silty
cla
y, m
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
oars
e su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
and
occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
, med
ium
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s and
smal
l cha
rcoa
l pie
ces.
0.67
x 0
.36
x 0.
42
76Fi
ll of
Sta
ke-
hole
7777
2977
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k or
angi
sh-g
rey
silty
sand
; occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
fine s
ub-a
ngul
ar p
ebbl
es a
nd c
harc
oal f
lecks
and
smal
l pie
ces.
0.12
x 0
.10
x 0.
29
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
45
Con
text
Feat
ure
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hSt
rat A
bove
Stra
t Bel
owSh
ort D
escr
ipti
onD
imen
sion
s (m
)77
Cut
of
stake
hole
7676
2C
ircul
ar in
pla
n, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slop
e ver
tical
ly a
nd a
re
smoo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a t
aper
ed ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
. Tru
ncat
ed b
y C
.29.
0.12
x 0
.10
x 0.
29
Appendix 2 Site matrix
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Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups
Group 1 Area 1
Sub-group 1A - PitsPlates: 1, 10-12, 14-15, 18-20, 22, 26-9, 33-4, 36, 43-6, 49-50, 56-7, 59-60, 62-3, 66-8 and 70. Contexts: C.4 (C.3), C.6 (C.5), C.10 (C.9), C.25 (C.26), C.28 (C.27), C.41 (C.40 and C.46), C.48 (C.45), C.54 (C.53), C.60 (C.59), C.62 (C.61), C.68 (C.67), C.70 (C.69), C.82 (C.81, C.97, C.93, C.94, C.95 and C.96), C.88 (C.83, C.84, C.85, C.86 and C.87) and C.92 (C.90 and C.91).
Description:
Sub-group 1A consists of fifteen pits located in area one of Gortnahown 1.These pits ranged between 0.50 and 2.95m in length, 0.29 and 1.85m in width and
0.07 and 0.75m in depth. A cluster of features in the eastern extent of the site included five pits (C.41, C.62,
C.25, C.60 and C.54). C.25 and C.60 were oval shaped pits and C.41, C.54 and C.62 were irregular shaped pits. They all contained fills generally composed of sandy silt with inclu-sions of pebbles and charcoal. To the south-east of these pits was a small sub-rectangular pit (C.4) that contained a single fill of light brown silty sand with pebble, stone and char-coal inclusions.
In the southern extent of the site there were two pits (C.68 and C.70). C.68 was cir-cular with a concave base and C.70 was oval with a concave base. They both contained single fills of dark greyish brown silt with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal.
Three pits were located in the western extent of the site (C.80, C82 and C.88). C.80 was a sub-triangular pit with a flat base. It contained two fills (C.79 and C.89) of sandy clay with inclusions of pebbles and a lot of charcoal (particularly in the upper fill). C.82 was a large irregular pit with a base that tapered to a point. It had dimensions of 1.90m in length, 1m in width and 0.75m in depth and contained six fills ranging from dark brown-ish black silt at the top to light orangish white clay at the base.
C.88 was an oval pit with a base that tapered to a blunt point. This pit was also quite large with dimensions of 2.10m in length, 1.85m in width and 0.64m in depth. It con-tained five fills ranging from mid greyish brown silty clay at the top to pinkish white silty clay at the base.
In the northern extent of the site there were four pits (C.6, C.10, C.28 and C.48). C.10 was the furthest north. It was oval in plan with a pointed base and contained a single fill (C.9) of mid greyish brown silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal flecks. C.48 was a sub-rectangular pit with a flat base and a single fill (C.45) of dark brown silty clay with in-clusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal flecks. C.6 was an oval pit with an irregular base and a single fill (C.5) of mid grey sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal. C.28
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was a large oval shaped pit with a concave base. It had dimensions of 2.95m in length, 1.78m in width and 0.42m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.27) of greyish brown silty clay with inclusions of stones, pebbles and charcoal flecks.
C.92 was located in a small cutting to the west of area 1. It was irregular in plan with a flat base and contained two fills (C.90 and C.91) of sandy clay with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal.
Interpretation:
No finds were revealed during the excavation of area one in Gortnahown 1. This made it difficult to ascertain either a date or a function for the features on the site.
All of the excavated pits contained varying amounts of charcoal, indicating that hu-man activity was involved in their formation. However, the function of these pits remains unclear.
It is possible that the more charcoal-rich pits were fire-related and could possibly have been used as hearths; C.80 for example contained a lot of charcoal. A lack of evidence of in situ burning suggests that it was a pit that was possibly later used for some kind of fire-related activity. The two large pits (C.82 and C.88) located either side of C.80 contained a lot of charcoal in their upper fills suggesting a link; they were probably used for the deposition of waste material from C.80.
C.41 in the east of the site was an irregular shaped, shallow pit. Three stake-holes were cut into its base; the burning of the stakes could be the reason for the charcoal rich fill contained within the pit, which was probably dug to facilitate the insertion of upright stakes, as it seems too irregular and shallow to have served any other function.
It would appear, due to the fact that there was a similarity between the cuts and their fills, that the features in area 1 were contemporary.
Sub-group 1B - PostholesPlates: 6-9, 17, 21, 31, 41, 47-8, 52, 54, 61, and 64-5.Contexts: C.17 (C.18), C.19 (C.20), C.21 (C.22), C.23 (C.24), C.55 (C.50), C.64 (C.63), C.66 (C.65), C.74 (C.73), C.78 (C.77).
Description:
Sub-group 1B contains eight postholes (C.17, C.19, C.21, C.23, C.64, C.66, C.74 and C.78) located within area 1 of Gortnahown 1.
These postholes ranged between 0.15 and 0.45m in length, 0.15 and 0.29m in width and 0.12 and 0.32m in depth. With the exception of C.66 and C.64, which were sub-rectangular and oval in plan respectively, the postholes were circular in plan with concave bases. They all contained a single fill generally composed of sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.
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Interpretation:
The postholes in sub-group 1B, like the pits in sub-group 1A, are difficult to interpret, both due to the general lack of identifiable evidence on the site and also due to the fact that the postholes do not seem to form any particular structural pattern.
There were four postholes (C.17, C.19, C.21 and C.23) just north of a cluster of fea-tures towards the east of the site. It is possible that they were dug for the insertion of posts probably to create some form of shelter, such as a windbreak, for the pits to the south; they are closest to pit C.25.
C.64 and C.66 were just south-east of pit C.41 with three stake-holes in the base and another stake-hole to the west, it is possible that together with the stake-holes, the posts that would have been located here formed some sort of small, flimsy structure; the pur-pose of a structure however is unclear.
Two postholes located to the south-west of the site (C.74 and C.78) were very similar in shape and size. They were located c. 5m apart but were probably connected. As they were situated towards the south-western site boundary it is possible that they could have been related to features beyond the boundary of the excavation.
Sub-group 1C - Stake-holesPlates: 22, 37-9, 40 and 42-4.Contexts: C.42, C.47, C.52, C.56, C.55 (C.50), C.57 and C.58.
Description:
Sub-group 1C consists of seven stake-holes (C.42, C.47, C.52, C.55, C.56, C.57 and C.58) within area one of Gortnahown 1. They ranged between 0.07 and 0.12m in length, 0.07 and 0.11m in width and 0.07 and 0.15m in depth.
Three stake-holes (C. 47, C.56 and C.57) were located in the base of pit C.41. They were circular and sub-circular in plan and had bases that tapered to a rounded point. They all contained a fill of mid yellowish grey sandy silt with occasional inclusions of charcoal flecks. Just west of the same pit was another stake-hole (C.42) which was sub-circular in plan with a base that tapered to a point. This stake-hole also contained a fill of yellowish grey sandy silt with occasional inclusions of charcoal flecks. C.58 was at the base of a pit (C.54). This stake-hole was circular in plan with a base that tapered to a point. It contained a fill of dark brown silty sand with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal flecks.
C.52 and C.55 were located just east of pit C.48. C.52 was a circular stake-hole with a pointed base; it contained a fill of brown silt.
Interpretation:
Four of the stake-holes in this sub-group were associated with pit C.41 which was located just west of two postholes (C.64 and C.66). It is possible that together they formed a small, flimsy structure.
C.52 was just north of a posthole (C.55). They probably formed a small structure such as a windbreak east of pit (C.48) to which they were adjacent.
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The fact that there were no finds or any discernible pattern to the features has left it difficult to interpret this site. Further analysis of soil and charcoal samples should help with our understanding of this area of Gortnahown 1.
Group 2 - Gortnahown 1 Area 2
Sub-group 2A - PitsPlates: 4-8, 12-19, 21, 23-30, 32-58, 60, 63, 65, 67-69, 73, 75-83, 87-98 and 101-13. Contexts: C.3 (C.4 and C.10), C.6 (C.23, C.5 and C.30), C.8 (C.7), C.11 (C.9, C.12, C.33, C.36 and C.45), C.17 (C.18), C.19 (C.20), C.21 (C.22, C.34 and C.35), C.25 (C.24 and C.48), C.27 (C.26), C.28 (C.40, C.41, C.42, C.43, C.44 and C.62), C.37 (C.39 and C.38) and C.65 (C.66, C.67, C.72, C.73, C.74 and C.75).
Description:
Sub-group 2A consists of twelve pits in area 2 of Gortnahown 1 (C.3, C.6, C.8, C.11, C.17, C.19, C.21, C.25, C.27, C.28, C.37 and C.65).
In the central area of the site there was a cluster of features that included six pits (C.3, C.6, C.8, C.28, C.37 and C.47) that ranged between 0.34 and 1.60m in length, 0.23 and 1.12m in width and 0.10 and 0.43m in depth. C.28 was the central pit; it was covered by a spread (C.40) of mid to dark greyish brown sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles, charcoal and oxidised material. This spread extended beyond the pit to the east. Inside the pit there were five fills (C.41, C.42, C.43, C.44 and C.62). These fills differed quite notably; the upper fill (C.41) was mid black sandy silt, C.44 was composed of mid pinkish brown sandy clay, the next fill C.62 was light yellowish brown sandy silt, C.42 consisted of dark black sandy silt and the basal fill (C.43) was composed of light greyish brown sandy silt. Throughout the fills there were inclusions of pebbles and charcoal; burnt bone flecks were included in fill C.41 and slag was recovered from fill C.43.
C.37 was an oval pit with a flat base. It contained two fills (C.39 and C.38) of grey sandy silt and silty sand with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal; there were also inclusions of burnt bone flecks in the basal fill (C.38).
C.3 was sub-circular with a concave base; it contained two fills (C.4 and C.10) of sandy silt with pebble, stone and charcoal inclusions. This pit and its fills had been dis-turbed by later animal activity.
C.6 was sub-oval with a flat base. This pit contained three fills (C.23, C.5 and C.30) that varied from dark grey sand at the top to light orangish brown silty sand at the base. Pebbles, stones and charcoal were included throughout the fills and burnt bone was found in the two upper fills (C.23 and C.5).
C.8 was an oval pit with a flat base; it contained a single fill (C.7) of mid to dark grey-ish brown slightly sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal flecks.
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C.47 was irregular in plan with an irregular base into which a stake-hole was cut (C.50). It contained a single fill (C.46) of dark greyish brown sand with inclusions of peb-bles, burnt bone and charcoal flecks.
There were five linear pits in this sub-group (C.11, C.19, C.25, C.27 and C.65). These ranged between 2.70 and 3.64m in length, 0.37 and 0.80m in width and 0.18 and 0.20m in depth.
C.11 was adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site. This linear pit was orientated north/south and contained five fills (C.9, C.12, C.33, C.36 and C.45). There seemed to be three fills at the top of the pit (C.9, C.12 and C.33) however a furrow that was truncating the pit had caused some disturbance so it is possible that there was only one upper fill that appeared different in places due to this later activity.
C.12 and C.33 were composed of dark greyish brown clayey silt and C.9 was com-posed of dark greyish brown silty clay; they all contained inclusions of pebbles and char-coal; C.33 also contained burnt bone. C.45 was mid brown clayey silt with pebble and charcoal inclusions and C.36 was greyish brown clayey silt with inclusions of pebbles, charcoal and flecks of burnt bone. A quern stone was recovered from the base of the pit.
To the north of C.11 and also alongside the eastern boundary of the site was C.19. This pit was truncated by a furrow on the south-west. It was orientated south-west/north-east, had a flat base and contained a single fill (C.20) of dark brown stony sand with inclu-sions of pebbles, stones (including heat cracked stones) and charcoal.
C.65 was located to the west of C.19. This was a curvilinear pit with a flat base. It contained six fills (C.66, C.67, C.72, C.73, C.74 and C.75) that ranged from light brown sandy silt at the top to light yellowish brownish grey sandy clay at the base. Pebbles, stones, charcoal, heat affected stones and burnt bone flecks were included in the fills. A polished stone was recovered from the basal fill (C.67). Some parts of this pit were deeper than others and some of the sides were undercut, these different levels contained different fills, suggesting that it could have originally been a smaller feature that had later been re-cut; hence different areas were backfilled at different times.
C.27 was located to the west of C.65. It was orientated east/west. The base was con-cave in profile with a stake-hole (C. 64) cut into it. This feature contained a single fill (C.26) of dark brownish grey pebbly, sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal and flecks of burnt bone.
C.25 was located to the south of C.27 and was also orientated east/west. This feature had a base that tapered to a point and it contained two fills (C.24 and C.48) of sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal. Flecks of burnt bone were recovered from C.24.
The two remaining pits in this sub-group (C.17 and C.21) were located between the linear pits. C.17 was situated between C.11 and C.19. It was a sub-rectangular pit with a flat base and dimensions of 1.69m in length, 0.61m in width and 0.14m in depth. It contained a single fill of light brown silty clay.
C.21 was to the west of C.17. This was an oval pit with a concave base and dimensions of 1.25m in length, 0.85m in width and 0.36m in depth. It contained three fills (C.22,
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C.34 and C.35) of silty clay with inclusions of pebbles, heat cracked stones, charcoal and bone.
Interpretation:
C.28 seemed to be a significant feature on the site. Burnt bone, charcoal and slag inside the fills were suggestive of domestic human activity. It seems likely that burning occurred in the pit, as evident from the fill of burnt clay (C.44) that was covered by a charcoal rich fill (C.41). The spread (C.40) over the top of the pit contained charcoal and oxidised material, indicative of burning activity.
C.8 was very likely to have been dug to facilitate the deposition of the waste burnt material from nearby pit C.28.
Apart from the linear pits, most of the pits on the site showed, through their fills, an association with burning in some way, either through the inclusion of charcoal, burnt bone or heat shattered stones. This suggests that they were all related; the fact that they were all concentrated in a small area of the site would further support this theory.
C.11 and C.19 were very similar linear pits, a quern stone that seemed to have been intentionally placed worked side down at the base of C.11 shows that human activity was responsible for these features. The function of these two large shallow pits however is unclear, however their similarity and the fact that they were both aligned north-south suggests that they were related. Likewise C.25 and C.27 were parallel, east-west orientated linear features, it is not clear whether these were pits or small slot trenches. Charcoal and burnt bone inclusions in the fills does confirm the presence of human activity though and nearby stake-holes suggest that there could have been some sort of small structure in this part of the site, north-west of the other features.
The occurrence of charcoal and burnt bone throughout the features suggests that all of the above mentioned pits date to the same occupation phase. Further analysis of charcoal and bone samples should help to date the features and might also help with our understanding of the site.
Sub-group 2B - PostholesPlates: 3, 10, 17-18, 20, 30, 35-6, 39, 104-106, 108, 111 and 113-16.Contexts: C.13 (C.14) and C.16 (C.15).
Description:
There are two postholes in sub-group 2B (C.13 and C.16). C.16 was truncating pit C.6. This was an oval posthole with a concave base and di-
mensions of 0.38m in length, 0.29m in width and 0.17m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.15) of mid grey silty sand with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal flecks.
C.13 was located just south of C.16, this was also an oval posthole; it had a flat base and dimensions of 0.34m in length, 0.30m in width and 0.22m in depth. This posthole was filled with mid brownish grey silty sand with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal (C.14).
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Interpretation:
The two postholes would have been created by human activity for the insertion of wooden posts. They could have held a structure, possibly a windbreak to the north-east of the area of activity around C.28 (pit with evidence of burning activity).
Sub-group 2C - Stake-holesPlates: 62, 66, 70-72, 84-6 and 113-16.Contexts: C.50 (C.49), C.53 (C.54), C.55 (C.56), C.58 (C.59), C.60 (C.61), C.64 (C.63), C.68 (C.69) and C.77 (C.76).
Description:
Sub-group 2C consists of eight stake-holes (C.50, C.53, C.55, C.58, C.60, C.64, C.68 and C.77). They were all either circular or sub-circular in plan with bases that varied between concave and tapered in profile. Dimensions of these stake-holes ranged between 0.04 and 0.12m in length, 0.04 and 0.10m in width and 0.08 and 0.29m in depth.
C.50 was located in the east of pit C.47 and was filled with dark brown sand (C.49). C.53 was in the base of pit C.19 and was filled with mid brown silty sand (C.54).C.55 was just east of pit C.19 and was filled with light brown silty sand (C.56).C.58 was located to the south of pit C.37 and was filled with dark orangish grey sandy
silt (C.59).C.60 (truncated by furrow C.51) was located between C.11 and C.21 and was filled
with mid greyish brown silty clay (C.61). C.64 was cut into the base of a linear pit (C.27); it was filled with dark orangish brown
sandy silt (C.63).C.77 was just south of linear pit C.27 and was filled with orangish grey silty sand
(C.76).C.68 was located to the south of linear pit C.25; it was filled with dark brownish black
sandy silt (C.69).All of the stake-holes, apart from C.60 contained inclusions of charcoal in their fills.
Interpretation:
The stake-holes on this site were somewhat spread out and although it is possible that they could have facilitated upright stakes for construction purposes it is not very obvious. There is a stake-hole in C.27 and one to the north of the same feature as well as one to the south of C.25; if these two linear features were slot trenches then these stake-holes could be evidence of further structural supports. C.50 inside pit C.47 was probably related to stake-hole C.68. The two stake-holes in the east of the site (C.53 and C.55) were also associated with a linear feature (C.19) however their function here also remains unclear.
C.58 located between pits C.28 and C.37 is fairly isolated, its purpose on the site is therefore not apparent.
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Appendix 4 Finds Register
Context Find Category Fabric Artefact type Description36 1 Stone Limestone Quern stone L. 270 mm., W. 260.5 mm., Th. 70
mm. Col. 10YR 6/8 (brownish yellow). Complete. Sub-square in shape, rectangu-lar in section. Both sides slightly concave. Extremely polished on the upper side. Rounded edges.
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Appendix 5 Plant Remains Report
By Penny Johnston
IntroductionThis report presents the results of plant remains analysis from Gortnahown 1, Co. Cork (E2423). The site comprised miscellaneous evidence for settlement.
MethodologyThe samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-as-sisted floatation (following guidelines in Pearsall 2000). The floating material (or ‘flot’) from each sample was collected in a stack of geological sieves (the smallest mesh size was 250mm). When all the carbonised material was collected the flot was then air-dried in paper-lined drying trays prior to storage in airtight plastic bags. The samples were scanned under low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope.
ResultsA total of 9 samples were examined but no plant remains were present in these samples (see the results of scanning in Table 1). No further analysis is required.
ReferencesPearsall, D. 2000 Paleoethnobotany: a Handbook of Procedures. New York, Academic
Press.
Sample Context Charcoal Seeds % scanned2 3 Medium Absent 10021 59 Low Absent 10020 89 Low Absent 10033 84 Low Absent 10019 53 Low Absent 10015 27 Low Absent 10030 91 Low Absent 1009 26 Low Absent 10040 96 Low Absent 100
Table1:ScannedsamplesfromGortnahown1,Co�Cork(E2423)
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Appendix 6 Osteoarchaeological Report
by Linda G. Lynch
IntroductionArchaeological excavations were undertaken at the site known as Gortnahown 1 (licence number E2423) in Co. Cork by Eachtra Archaeological Projects in 2007 as part of the archaeological resolution associated with the construction of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchel-stown bypass (Jacinta Kiely, pers. comm.). The site was excavated in two sections – Area A and Area B.
Cremated bone, identified as human in this study, was recovered from one of the lin-ear features, [C.27] in Area B. This feature also had two stake-holes in the base.
Three other samples of cremated bone were recovered from Gortnahown 1. These are detailed in Table 1. These were all identified by the writer as either animal, possible animal, or probable animal in origin and will not be analysed in the present report. Only the sample of human cremated bones (cremains) recovered from [C.27] will be examined in this report.
Sample No. Context No. Weight (g) Identification25 24 6 Probable animal30 36 9 Possible animal46 41 2 Animal
Table1�Listofcontextscontainingcrematedanimalbone
Scope of StudyThis report details the analysis of the human cremated bone recovered from one context at Gortnahown 1.
MaterialsThe cremated bone recovered from Gortnahown 1 was processed and separated from the soil matrix by the client and forwarded to the writer for analysis. The actual weight of bone recovered is detailed in the Discussion chapter. While four samples of cremated bones were recovered from Gortnahown 1 just one was human in origin.
MethodsThe fragments of cremated human bone were identified and analysed to determine the minimum number of individuals (MNIs). The fragments were too small to determine either the age-at-death or the sex. No pathological lesions or dental diseases were observed on the fragments.
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All of the cremated bone was weighed, the condition of the fragments was described, and the sizes of the fragments recovered were examined. These processes allow for the examination of a cremation deposit in terms of methods of cremation and possible associ-ated ritual. All percentages have been rounded off to one decimal place.
All of the raw osteological data on the cremains and the inhumation recovered from Gortnahown 1 are housed with the writer. The cremains will presently be returned to the client, and the curation will be determined by the National Museum of Ireland.
AnalysisSample 15 [c26]A total of 14g (118 fragments) of cremains were recovered from a linear feature [C.27], which also contained two stake-holes in the base. All of the fragments appear to be hu-man in origin. It was possible to identify 7g or 50% of the sample to bone type. These are listed in Table 2.
Main Skeletal Division Identified Skeletal Elements Total weight (g)Cranium and mandible 2 maxillary/mandibular socket fragments;
1 unidentified tooth root.1
Torso - 0Limbs 13 long bone shaft fragments 6Unidentified fragments - 7Total 14
Table2�ListofidentifiedhumancremainsinSample15,includingweightsofmainskeletalparts
There is no evidence of duplication of skeletal elements, and neither is there any indi-cation of other individuals of different ages-at-death in the sample, such as an adult and a child. The cremains are those of a single juvenile individual. It is not possible to determine a more accurate age-at-death. No dental conditions and/or skeletal pathological lesions are present on the cremains.
The largest fragment is from a long bone and it measures 25.4mm in length. The volume of bone recovered is too low to assess the overall fragment size. In addition, this analysis is not typically valid in the cremated remains of juvenile individuals, primarily due to the considerable variety in the actual size of juvenile individuals.
The cremains are all white in colour. There is no significant twisting evident but there are concentric fractures. The edges of many of the fragments are very smooth.
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Synthesis and Discussion
Summary of AnalysisA summary of the analysis is provided in Table 3.
Sample No. Context No. Feature type Weight of cremains (g) MNI
15 26 Linear feature with two stakeholes in the base
14 1 juvenile
Table3�SummaryofcremainsweightsandMNI,Gortnahown1
No dental conditions and/or skeletal pathological lesions are present on the remains. In general the bones are all white. There is little twisting but concentric fractures are evi-dent. The edges of the fragments are smooth.
The largest fragment is from a long bone and it measures 25.4mm in length. The vol-ume of bone recovered is too low to assess the overall fragment size.
DiscussionIn total, four samples of cremated bone were recovered from Gortnahown 1. Just one of these was human in origin, the others being identified by the writer as either animal, probable animal, or possible animal in origin. This small deposit of just 14g of the cre-mains of a human juvenile was recovered from a linear feature, which also contained two stake-holes in the base. The other features that were excavated in this area (Area B) of Gortnahown 1 comprised a series of pits, linear pits, post-holes, stake-holes, and three furrows. Initial indications are that the site is prehistoric in origin (J. Kiely, pers. comm.).
The bone fragments were split and cracked due to the intensity of the cremation pyre. Concentric fractures were also recorded in some of the fragments of the long bones. The latter are U-shaped fissures in long bones and concentric fissures in the proximal heads of the femora and humerus (McKinley 2000, 405). That fracturing can only occur in fresh, typically fleshed bones, as the lack of an organic content in dry bones militates against the occurrence of such fractures in dry bone samples (ibid.). This at least indicates that a fleshed body or body parts were cremated. In general, the cremains recovered from Gort-nahown 1 were white in colour. This indicates complete cremation at pyre temperatures of between 654OC and 1200OC (after Mays 1998). It also indicates that the people carry-ing out the process were entirely familiar with the complex procedures involved.
It is clear that the 14g of bone recovered here do not represent the total skeletal re-mains of this juvenile. There is no specific data for the expected weight of bone that may result from the cremation of a juvenile individual of any given age-at-death, as there is for adult individuals (McKinley 1989). However, clearly 14g of bone are not representative of the remains of a juvenile individual. A number of factors need to be considered when assessing the disparity between the actual weight of bone recovered and the expected weight of the cremains of an adult individual. The cremains were scientifically excavated and recovered, therefore loss of bones during the excavation and post-excavation stage
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may be dismissed. It is possible that a significant volume of bone has disintegrated in the soil through time. However, studies have indicated that – primarily through changes in the chemical properties of bone during the cremation process – cremated bone tends to survive very well in most soils, including acidic environments (Mays 1998, 209). It is more likely that only a selection of cremains were deposited in this linear feature. With the small volume of bone recovered it is not possible to ascertain whether the cremains sample was removed from a primary, larger cremation, or if only selected body-parts where cremated to begin with.
It was noted during the analysis that the edges of the fragments were smooth. This indicates that the fragments are worn. When bone is cremated it often takes on an almost glass-like quality, and typically has sharp edges where the bones shatter. McKinley (1994) has noted that unprotected cremations (that is, those not contained within a vessel) may be more prone to destruction. It is entirely possible that the wear present on the fragments from Gortnahown may be due to post-depositional taphonomic factors. However, it is possible that the small deposits were retained for some time prior to deposition.
That was the premise put forward for a cremation burial excavated by E. Dennehy in Greyabbey, in Kildare town (Dennehy 2005). This tiny deposit of just 16g of the cremains of a young human juvenile appears to have been retained for some time after cremation and prior to deposition, as evidenced by the smoothened edges of the bone fragments (Lynch and O’Donnell 2007, 110). In an Early Bronze Age cist cremation burial recently excavated by Tempus Archaeology in Ballysallagh (Dowling and Wilkinson 2006), a sin-gle worn piece of white cremated bone was recovered in the uppermost levels of the main cremation deposit (Lynch 2009). It appears probable that this single fragment of bone was from an earlier cremation (of an adult), had been retained by somebody, who perhaps kept it on their person, and was later deposited with the main cremains of another adult in the cist (ibid.). Burial is but one option for cremated bones (see Aspeborg 2005; Wil-liams 2008). We should be careful making the modern assumption that disposal in a pit or cist was the ultimate important fate for the cremation. Perhaps scattering cremains on the surface was more important.
The selectively of cremains is a classic feature of archaeological cremation burials (for example, see Lynch and O’Donnell 2007) and is clearly indicative of a complex post-cremation treatment of the cremains which we are only now beginning to truly examine. It is difficult to surmise why a selection of the cremains of a child should be deposited in this linear feature, which may have been marked by two stakes. At present, the function of this site is illusive. Preliminary assessment suggests that it is prehistoric in origin (J. Kiely, pers. comm.). It is perhaps these types of prehistoric sites which present the greatest challenge to the archaeologist in terms of interpretation.
Another much larger site comprising numerous pits, post-holes, and stake-holes was recently excavated by Aegis Archaeology at ‘Kylemore’ in Newtown, Castletroy in Lim-erick (Lynch 2008). Small deposits of cremated human bone were recovered in a number of the pits. Many of the latter had one or two stake-holes cut into them. Analysis of this site is on-going. Despite the high number of features excavated at that site its function still
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remains elusive. No dating evidence was immediately recovered but radio-carbon dates are forthcoming. The pits with one or two stake-holes and containing a small quantity or cremains appear to be strikingly similar to the feature containing the cremains excavated at Gortnahown 1. Clearly the process of deposition was of vital importance to the com-munity but the actual reasoning behind such practices remains completely elusive.
ConclusionsA small volume of the cremains of a human juvenile were recovered from a linear feature excavated at Gortnahown 1. Two stakeholes were uncovered at the base of the pit, which suggests they were some type of markers. The fleshed juvenile had been well cremated, yet only a small sample of his/her cremains were chosen for deposition in this manner. It is unknown what was done with the remainder of the cremation. The wear on the frag-ments suggests that this deposit was retained for some time after cremation and prior to deposition, although it is possible that the wear is due to site-specific taphonomic factors. The function of the site is unknown, although it is surmised that it is prehistoric in date. This site further adds to recent research on Irish cremations and confirms that there were extremely complex processes association with cremation.
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ReferencesBass, W. M. 1995 Human Osteology. A Laboratory and Field Manual. 4th ed.
Columbia: Missouri Archaeological Society.
Dennehy, E. 2005 Archaeological Excavation and Monitoring Report, Grey Abbey Friary, Nurney Road, Kildare. Licence No. 04E0233. Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd: Unpublished Report for Client.
Dowling, G. & F. Wilkinson 2006 Preliminary (Stratigraphy) Report on the Excavation of a Bronze Age Cemetery at Ballynasallagh townland, Ballynacarrigy, Co. Westmeath. Licence Number 07E0121ext. Tempus Archaeology: Unpublished Report for Client.
Lynch, L. G. 2008 Stratigraphic Report on the Archaeological Excavations at ‘Kylemore’, Newtown, Castletroy, Co. Limerick. Licence No. 07E0934. Aegis Archaeology Limited: Unpublished Report for Client.
Lynch, L. G. 2009 Osteoarchaeological Report on cremated bones excavated at Ballysallagh, Ballynacarrighy, Co. Westmeath Licence no.: 07E0121ext. L. G. Lynch: Unpublished Report for Client.
Lynch, L. G. & L. O’Donnell 2007 ‘Cremation in the Bronze Age: Practice, Process and Belief ’ in, E. Grogan, L. O’Donnell, and P. Johnston Bord Gáis Éireann. T he Bronze Age landscapes of the Pipeline to the West, 105-14.Wicklow: Wordwell.
Mays, S. 1998 The Archaeology of Human Bones. London: Routledge.
McKinley, J. 2000 ‘The analysis of cremated bone’, in M. Cox & S. Mays (eds), Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science, 403-21. London: Greenwich Medical Media Ltd.
McKinley, J. I. 1994 ‘Bone fragment size from British cremations and its implication for pyre technology and ritual’, Journal of Archaeological Science 21, 339-42.
McKinley, J. I. 1989 ‘Cremations, expectations, methodologies, and realities’, in C. A. Roberts, F. Lee & J. Bintliff (eds), Burial Archaeology. Current Research, Methods, and Developments, 65-76. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports 211 (British Series).
White, T. D. & P. A. Folkens 1991 Human Osteology. San Diego: Academic Press.
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Appendix 7 Animal Bone ReportThe excavations at Gortnahown 1 Area 2 resulted in the recovery of very small quantities of bone. Material from the prehistoric site consists mostly of indeterminate fragments of burnt bone recovered from the fills of two pits and the house foundation trench.
Bronze Age periodThe fills (C24, C36 & C41) of a foundation trench (C25) and two pits (C11 & C28) yielded very small quantities of burnt bone. All are totally calcined from being in contact with intense heat suggesting that bones were either discarded into hearths during meal-time or that food waste left lying about on the living surface for a while was eventually swept into the fire places during house-keeping duties. The fills of one of the pits and the trench (C24 & C36) produced virtually equal amounts of bone (34 & 33 specimens) but just one of these can be taken to species level and it represents the distal articular surface of an adult sheep/goat tibia. Eleven fragments are sufficiently large to indicate that they belong to a large-sized animal such as a cow and the remaining specimens are not deter-minate to species. The fill of the second pit (C41) yielded a total sample of just 12 highly fragmented burnt bones and none of these are diagnostic.