archaeological report - gortnahown 3, co. cork (ireland)
DESCRIPTION
The excavation of the site at Gortnahown 3 revealed prehistoric settlement remains. These were concentrated in the eastern part of the site and they included a hearth and a group of pits and stake-holes dated to the Late Bronze Age. In the western part of the site a small concentration of stake-holes, a pit and two post-holes was found clustered around a hearth. In between the eastern and the western concentrations of archaeological features there was a single isolated hearth dated to the Iron Age. Lithic artefacts dating to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and sherds of Domestic Cordoned Urn were recovered from some of the pits.TRANSCRIPT
Issue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237]
Archaeological Excavation ReportE2477 - Gortnahown 3, Co. Cork
Prehistoric activity
Eachtra Journal
May 2011
Archaeological Excavation Report
Co Cork
Cork County Council
Julianna O'Donoghue, Debbie Leigh & Penny Johnston
Gortnahown 3
EACHTRAArchaeological Projects
E No:
:
Project:
Client:
E2477
N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown
Julianna O'DonoghueExcavation Director
Written by:
Prehistoric activity 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 3Co Cork
Excavation Director
Julianna O'Donoghue
Written By
Julianna O'Donoghue, Debbie Leigh & Penny Johnston
EACHTRAArchaeological Projects
© 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork
Set in 12pt Garamond
Printed in Ireland
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Table of ContentsSummary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������iii
Acknowledgements��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iv
1 Scopeoftheproject�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
2 Routelocation��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
3 Receivingenvironment��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground��������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
5 SiteLocationandTopography������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 11
6 Excavationmethodology���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11
7 Excavationresults������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13
8 Discussion��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22
9 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25
Appendix1 StratigraphicIndex��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������28
Appendix2 Sitematrix������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 37
Appendix3 Groupsandsubgroups������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39
Appendix4 Findsregister�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������45
Appendix5 Plantremains������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 47
Appendix6 Lithicsreport��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������49
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List of FiguresFigure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnance
SurveyDiscoverySeriesmap���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Figure2: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028� The map is based on the second editionOrdnanceSurveymaps��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Figure3: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainonthefirsteditionOrdnanceSurveymapCO010,011,019,020,027and028��������������������������������������������������������10
Figure4: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown3E2477������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Figure5: Post-excavationplanofthesouth-westernsectionofthesiteatGortnahown3E2477������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Figure6: Post-excavationplanofthenorth-easternsectionofthesiteatGortnahown3E2477�18
Figure7: SherdsofDomesticCordonedUrn:E2477:39:1,3and8Vessel3andE2477:48:1Vessel4��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21
Figure8: TopographicalmapshowingthelocationofGortnahown1E2423,Gortnahown2E2426andGortnahown3E2477�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23
List of PlatesPlate1: Mid-excavationviewofirregularpitandpossibletreethrow(C�42),fromeast��������������� 15
Plate2: Post-excavationviewofirregularpitandpossibletreethrow(C�60),fromsouth����������� 15
Plate3: Pre-excavationviewofpossiblestonesurface(C�38)fromnorth�����������������������������������������16
Plate4: Post-excavationviewofhearth(C�75)fromsouth����������������������������������������������������������������������� 17
Plate5: Mid-excavationviewofhearth(C�66)andsurroundingstake-holes,fromsouth������������ 17
Plate6: Mid-excavationviewofpost-hole(C�35)fromsouth�����������������������������������������������������������������20
Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpost-hole(C�33)fromsouth�����������������������������������������������������������������20
List of TablesTable1: DetailsofpitsexcavatedinthewesternpartofGortnahown3��������������������������������������������� 13
Table2: DetailsofasinglepitexcavatedintheeasternpartofGortnahown3�������������������������������� 19
Table3: DetailsofthepostholesC�33andC�37�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19
Table4: Radiocarbondates�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22
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http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2477-gortnahown3-co-cork/Gortnahown 3-E2477
SummaryThe excavation of the site at Gortnahown 3 revealed prehistoric settlement remains. These were concentrated in the eastern part of the site and they included a hearth and a group of pits and stake-holes dated to the Late Bronze Age. In the western part of the site a small concentration of stake-holes, a pit and two post-holes was found clustered around a hearth. In between the eastern and the western concentrations of archaeological features there was a single isolated hearth dated to the Iron Age. Lithic artefacts dating to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and sherds of Domestic Cordoned Urn were recovered from some of the pits.
Road project name N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown BypassSite name Gortnahown 3Ministerial Order no. A040E no. E2477Site director Julianna O’DonoghueTownland GortnahownParish GlanworthBarony Condons & ClangibbonOS Map Sheet No. CO019National Grid Reference 181148 109732
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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, Enda O’Mahony and Maurizio Tosca-no. Photographs are by John Sunderland, Hawkeye and Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Specialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Margaret McCarthy, Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan, Farina Sternke, 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 archaeologist was Ken Hanley.
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1 Scope of the project The archaeological works associated with the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council, National Road Design Office, Rich-mond, Glanmire, Co. Cork. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Cork County Council as part of the Author-ity’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 Environment, 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 bypass. This phase of the project was carried out from September 2006 to Septem-ber 2007 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeolo-gist. 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 By-pass. 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 archaeological and historical background, the scope of the project and the circumstances and scope of fieldwork. The document presented a scheme-wide summary of the archaeo-logical findings, a research framework within which the findings were dealt with and a publication 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 (Figure 1). 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, Glenwood, Ballinglanna North, Ballinrush, Caherdrinny, Gortnahown, Ballybeg, Turbeagh, Glena-
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 3E2477
N
0km 2km
Prehistoric Settlement Site
Post Medieval
Early Medieval
Prehistoric Site
Burnt Mound
Non-archaeological
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Figure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscoverySeriesmap�
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tlucky, Ballynamona, Kilshanny, Corracunna, Kildrum, Garryleagh, and Carrigane. 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 and McConnell 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
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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
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 3E2477
N
0km 2km
Prehistoric Settlement Site
Post Medieval
Early Medieval
Prehistoric Site
Burnt Mound
Non-archaeological
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Figure2: 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.
Early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100)The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000 and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s (Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu-lar society (Stout 1997).
A major research excavation of two ringforts was undertaken at Lisleagh, c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 route, in the late 1980s/early1990s. Structural, domestic and industrial evidence was recorded at both sites. A number of stake and wattle round houses, and ironworking were recorded in Lisleagh I, which had two phases of occupation, ranging from the early 7th century to the 9th century AD (Monk 1995, 105-116).
Souterrains, frequently associated with ringforts and enclosures, are man made un-derground chambers linked by narrow passageways. The concealed entrance is located at ground level. It is thought souterrains were used for storage or places of refuge during times of trouble (Clinton 2001). It has also been hypothesised that some may have been used for housing slaves.
The monastery of Brigown (which gave the name to the modern parish in Mitchel-stown) was founded in the 7th century by Fanahan. Fanahan is reputed to have com-missioned seven smiths to make seven sickles which were used by him for self-mortifica-tion. The new monastery was named, Brí Gabhann, for the smiths (Power 1996, 3). The ecclesiastical remains comprise a church, graveyard, holy well and site of round tower
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(CO019:30/01-05). A possible enclosure site with evidence of metalworking was excavated by John Purcell in Brigown. This was possibly the enclosure of Brigown. No dates were obtained from the site (John Purcell personal communication).
A ringfort and associated souterrain (CO027-109) were excavated on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown at Ballynacarriga 2 (E2413). Two circular houses and a com-prehensive range of metalworking activities were excavated at Gortnahown 2 (E2426). Sites with evidence of metalworking activities were also excavated at Ballynamona 2 (E2429) and Ballinglanna North 1 (E2412).
High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tower houses. Mitchelstown was formerly known as Brigown / Mitchelstown (CO019-149). It was listed as a market town in 1299 and was located on the southern bank of the Gradoge River, to the east of Mitchelstown Castle (Power et al. 2000, 595). The town developed under the patronage of the House of Desmond. It passed into the hands of the Earls of Kingston in the 17th century (Power 1996, 23).
The Condon family controlled the barony of Condons and Clongibbon. Two of their castles are located in close vicinity to the route of the N8 FM. Cloghleagh Castle (CO027:113) is located on the northern bank of the Funshion River to the east of the new route. It was built on an outcrop of limestone bedrock. It is a 5-storey tower with associated bawn wall (Power et al. 2000, 537). Caherdrinny Castle (CO019:97/02) is lo-cated to the west of the route. It was a 5-storey tower built within the hillfort enclosure (CO019:97/01&03). Glanworth Castle (Boherash CO027-42) is located on a sheer lime-stone cliff overlooking the River Funshion 5 km to the west of the route. The 13th-century hall house is associated with a four-sided walled enclosure (ibid. 516).
Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present).The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). Three de-mesnes associated with country houses are within the route of the N8 at Moorepark, Ballynacarriga and Glenwood. The estate system was dismantled in Ireland in the early 20th century. Demesnes usually comprise of a large country house with associated stables, farm buildings and gate lodges, areas of woodland and ornamental gardens etc. The de-mesne was usually enclosed by a high stone wall such as that associated with Moorepark. Moorepark house and demesne was the seat of the Earls Mountcashell (Lewis 1988, 312). The Moorepark Estate covered an area around 800 acres and extended both north and south of the river Funshion. The house was sold to the British War Office c. 1903 by the 5th Earl’s daughter (Bence-Jones 1996, 211). It burned down in 1908 and was never rebuilt. No trace of it now survives The demesne is clearly defined by woodland on the 1841-2 and 1906 edition Ordnance Survey maps, which was most likely enclosed by a
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
Kilshanny 1E2430
Kildrum 1E3971
Ballynacarriga 3E2412
Ballinglanna North 2E2415
Gortnahown 4E3832
Ballinglanna North 6E3972
Gortnahown 3E2477
N
0km 2km
Prehistoric Settlement Site
Post Medieval
Early Medieval
Prehistoric Site
Burnt Mound
Non-archaeological
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Figure3: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ordnance Survey mapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�
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wall. It is likely that the demesne walls are contemporary with the mansion house and therefore date to the 18th century. The Cork to Dublin mail coach road originally ran to west of the demesne walls as it appears on the 1841-2 and 1906 Ordnance Survey maps.
The site of a workhouse (C0019-11301-) built in 1852 is located in Kilshanny townland to the east of Mitchelstown. The complex of buildings, including a hospital chapel and mortuary, was enclosed within a three-metre high limestone wall and could accommo-date up to 600 people. Closed in 1916 and burned by the IRA in 1922, only the boundary wall and main entrance way survive today (Power 2002, 48).
A late 19th century bridge of rubble limestone approached by a causeway at either end and carrying a tertiary road from Kilworth-Glanworth over the Glencorra Stream. A road crosses the stream at the same location on the 1841-2 Ordnance survey map, but the bridging structure is not named. The site is named Glencorra Bridge on the 1906 Ordnance Survey map. This site is of local architectural significance.
5 Site Location and TopographyThe site is located at a height of 135 m OD at the base of the Kilworth Mountains. The Gradoge River, flowing in a north-easternly direction, and the present N8 Fermoy-Mitch-elstown were located to the west.
6 Excavation methodologyThe excavation was carried out under E-Number E2426 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 The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeologi-cal 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 radially outward until the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeological features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and meaningful 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 statements for excavation licences.
The site was excavated from 23 April 2007 to 1 June 2007. Only areas within the CPO were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation measured 789 m2.
42
60
88
81
50
63
49
23
3375
25
59
9293
1217
83
79
90
77
35
8091
89
14
78
67
58
68
11
181146
181146
181165
181165
1097
25
1097
25
1097
50
1097
50
±
0 20 m
)O135 m O.D.
Hearths
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Figure4: Post-excavationplanofGortnahown3E2477�
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The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register (Appendix 1) and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3).
7 Excavation resultsExcavation at Gortnahown 3 revealed that the main concentration of archaeological ac-tivity was in the eastern part of the site, where pits, a hearth, a stone surface and associated stake-holes were excavated. There was one isolated hearth near the middle of the site and near the western limit of the site there was a small hearth that was surrounded by numer-ous stake-holes (Figure 4).
Western pits and associated featuresThe main concentration of archaeological features at Gortnahown 3 was found in the western part of the site. It included eight pits (C.23, C.42, C.49, C.50, C.60, C.63 and C.81), a stone surface (C.38), a single post-hole (C.25), a hearth (C.87) and seven associat-ed stake-holes (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.15, C.16, C.17 and C.76). An arc of seven stake-holes (C.77, C.78, C.79, C.80, C.91, C.92 and C.93) and four more isolated stake-holes (C.59, C.83, C.89 and C.90) were also excavated (Figure 5).
Context Shape in plan Artefacts and ecofacts Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m)C.23 Circular Domestic Cordoned Urn Vessel
10.5 0.5 0.08
C.42 Irregular (tree bowl)
Domestic Cordoned Urn Vessels 2 & 3
3.6 1.3 0.6
C.49 Sub-circular 0.51 0.48 0.08C.50 Rectangular Domestic Cordoned Urn Vessel
4 Flint core
0.35 0.29 0.07
C.60 Irregular (tree bowl)
3 1.12 0.25
C.63 Circular Indeterminate cereal 0.52 0.45 0.09C.81 Sub-circular 1.12 0.95 0.17C.88 Sub-circular Flint debitage 1.75 1.1 0.17
Table1:DetailsofpitsexcavatedinthewesternpartofGortnahown3
Because of their irregular nature, two of these were interpreted as tree bowls or tree throws (C.42 and C.60), i.e. the cavity in the ground that remained when a tree fell or was removed from the ground. The remains of two pottery vessels were recovered from one of these tree bowls, C.42 (Plate 1). This evidence suggests that tree-fall disturbed an earlier area of settlement or, alternatively, the hollows left by fallen trees were used as convenient places for the dumping of waste and cultural material. This phenomenon is relatively well known from sites in England where Neolithic and Bronze Age material has been identi-fied (Evans et al. 1999, 247). As the remaining pottery from Gortnahown 3 was recovered
42
60
88 81
50
63
49
23
25
59
92
93
12
80
15
17
83
13
16
89
79
90
77
91
7614
78
87
±
0 5 m
Hearth
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Figure5: Post-excavationplanofthesouth-westernsectionofthesiteatGortnahown3E2477�
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Plate1: Mid-excavationviewofirregularpitandpossibletreethrow(C�42),fromeast�
Plate2: Post-excavation view of ir-regular pit and possible treethrow(C�60),fromsouth�
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from two other pits (C.23 and C.50) it is possible that the tree bowls were later features that disturbed Middle Bronze Age settlement evidence at the site.
A stone surface (C.38) was found in the south-east of the site (Plate 2). It was 2.78 m in length and 1.34 m in width. It was probably part of a larger surface that has since been destroyed. It was most likely created for easier access in this area of the site and was prob-ably related to nearby pits (C.88 and C.81).
A hearth (C.87) manifested itself as an area of burnt subsoil that was 0.99 m in length and 0.50m in width and it was overlain by a charcoal-rich spread (C.11). This hearth was associated with a post-hole (C.25) and seven stake-holes (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.15, C.16, C.17 and C.76) were associated with the hearth. These features, clustered in the vicinity of the hearth, may represent hearth furniture, perhaps indicating the presence of a spit or grill-like structure over the hearth.
A small arc of seven stake-holes (C.77, C.78, C.79, C.80, C.91, C.92 and C.93) was located near the centre of the site. It was probably evidence of a windbreak or a similar structure. However, this structure was not obviously associated with any other features at the site.
A total of four stake-holes (C.59, C.83, C.89 and C.90) were isolated and were prob-ably not associated with any structure, perhaps they simply represent the insertion of single stakes. There is no obvious clue as to their original function, the single stake-hole (C.59) was located close to the possible tree throw, C.60 (Plate 2) and two stake-holes
Plate3: Pre-excavationviewofpossiblestonesurface(C�38)fromnorth�
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Plate4: Post-excavationviewofhearth(C�75)fromsouth�
Plate5: Mid-excavationviewofhearth(C�66)andsurroundingstake-holes,fromsouth�
Hearth
Hearth
6658
3335
75
5157
62
67
7074
69
53
73
52
5556
72
5461
68
71
82
±
02.5
m
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(C.89 and C.90) were located close to the pit (C.88). The remaining stake-hole (C.83) was an isolated feature.
Isolated hearthA single isolated hearth, C.75 (Plate 4) lay between the main concentration of activity to the east of the site and the group of features clustered around another hearth (C.66) near the western limit of the site (Figure 6). The small hearth (C.75) was 0.36m in length, 0.28m in width and 0.08m in depth and it contained a charcoal-rich fill. It was extremely small and it was possibly the remains of a fire that was created inside a natural hollow. An Iron Age date of cal AD 28–128 (UB–12982) was returned from hazel/alder charcoal from the hearth.
Eastern hearth and associated featuresA small concentration of archaeological activity was found clustered around a hearth (C.66) near the eastern limit of the site. Activity also included a pit (C.58). A small amount of hazelnut shells, weed seeds and barley grains were recovered from the fills of the pit.
Context Shape in plan Artefacts Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m)
C.58 Sub-rectangular 0.46 0.26 0.16Table2:DetailsofasinglepitexcavatedintheeasternpartofGortnahown3
The hearth (C.66) was circular in plan and had a flat base. It was 0.42 m in diameter and it was 0.05 m deep. It contained a single fill (C.44) of dark black silt with inclu-sions of pebbles, charcoal and fragments of burnt animal bone. The animal bone and the stake-holes surrounding the hearth indicate that it was probably used for cooking. A Late Bronze Age date of cal BC 910-815 (UB–12981) was returned from hazel/alder charcoal from the hearth. The hearth (C.66) was surrounded by eighteen stake-holes (C.51, C.52, C.53, C.54, C.55, C.56, C.57, C.61, C.62, C.67, C.68, C.69, C.70, C.71, C.72, C.73, C.74 and C.82). These could represent the remains of a windbreak or a spit structure used at the hearth (Plate 5).Two post-holes, C.33 (Plate 6) and C.35 (Plate 7) were found 4 m north-east of the hearth and the associated features. These post-holes were very similar and were probably in use at the same time.
Post-hole Shape in plan Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m)C.33 Circular 0.36 0.33 0.43C.35 Circular 0.35 0.32 0.46
Table3:DetailsofthepostholesC�33andC�37
As these were located close to the limit of the site it is possible that more post-holes re-main, un-excavated, beyond the limit of the excavation that were not discovered due to the limitations of the excavation. It is also possible that they were associated with an area of activity around the nearby hearth (C.66).
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Plate6: Mid-excavationviewofpost-hole(C�35)fromsouth�
Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpost-hole(C�33)fromsouth�
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LithicsThe lithics were examined by Farina Sternke (Appendix 5) and they included a piece of flint debitage (E2477:4:1) and a core (E2477:48:2). They were typologically un-diagnostic and technological indicators may suggest a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date.
Pottery The pottery was examined by Eoin Grogan and Helen Roche (Appendix 6). These were identified as Domestic Cordoned Urn, a type of pottery found in association with Middle Bronze Age settlements and dated to c. 1500 – 1200 BC. An assemblage of 90 sherds rep-resenting four flat-based barrel-shaped urns (Vessels 1–4) were recovered from pits C.23 and C.50 and tree bowl C.42 (Figure 7). Features, such as the presence of cordons and deep cord impressed ornament indicate an influence from the broad funerary cordoned urn tradition. Similar typological features were found at Caherdrinny 3 E2422 and at Mitchelstown 07E1071 on the route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road.
Plant remainsThe plant remains were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 7). Where plant mate-rial was found, it was only retrieved in small quantities. The identified material included hazelnut shell fragments, barley grains and a small amount of weed seeds from pits C.58 and C.63 and post-hole C.35. The only cereal type found was barley, which is common in Irish Bronze Age deposits.
CharcoalThe charcoal was examined by Mary Dillon in advance of radiocarbon dating.
Figure7: SherdsofDomesticCordonedUrn:E2477:39:1,3and8Vessel3andE2477:48:1Vessel4�
39:1 Vessel 339:8 Vessel 3
48:1 Vessel 4
39:3 Vessel 3
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Radiocarbon datesRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M.Stuiver & P.J. Re-imer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.
Lab code
Con-text
Material Un-calibrated date
δ 13 C Calibrated 2-sigma date
Calibrated 1-sigma date
Period
UB-12981
C.44 Hazel/alder charcoal from hearth C.66
2720+/-24 -24.2 BC 910-815 BC 896-865 859-833
Late Bronze Age
UB-12982
C.64 Hazel/alder charcoal from hearth C.75
1921+/-20 -27.7 AD 28-39 50-128
AD 60-88 103-122
Iron Age
Table4Radiocarbondates
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 8). With the exception of the Bronze Age structure in Gortnahown 1, no definite struc-tures were recorded. But a range of hearths, pits, post-holes and stake-holes and lithic stone tools, pottery and radiocarbon dates testify to the prolonged use of the river side location through out prehistory.
Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age The group of pits and stake-holes associated with the hearth C.87 maybe dated to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period by the lithic assemblage. The hearth-side activity is comparable to hearth and pit-side activity recorded at Gortnahown 2 E2423 (Area 1 and 2) located 120 m to the north-west. At least four hearths were the focus of activity in the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period (in Areas 1 and 2) at Gortnahown 2. Evidence for flint knapping was recorded at one of the larger hearth sites. The lithic assemblage was dominated by a Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age typological and technological com-ponent. Two radiocarbon dates of cal BC 2860-2505 (UB-13219) and cal BC 2016-1831 (UB-13217) were returned from these organised work spaces.
Bronze AgeThe pottery recovered from the southern part of the site does however suggest that the archaeological remains at Gortnahown 3 included the remains of a Middle Bronze Age occupation site. The pottery from the site, identified as Domestic Cordoned Urn, com-bined with a small quantity of charred plant remains and burnt animal bone, indicated that this site represented a domestic settlement. The nature of this settlement is, however, uncertain. Although three hearths were found during the excavation, these all appear to
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
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Figure8: TopographicalmapshowingthelocationofGortnahown1E2423,Gortnahown2E2426andGortnahown3E2477�
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24
have been outdoor hearths. There is no evidence that a structure ever existed at this site, although irregular pits were interpreted as tree throws and these may have disturbed the archaeological features at the site.
There are several known Middle Bronze Age settlement sites and Doody (2007, 91) catalogues 30 sites where structural details are available for sites of this date. The results from the route of the N8 in North Cork (including the Rathcormac to Fermoy road, the Fermoy to Mitchelstown road, the Mitchelstown Relief Road and the Mitchelstown to Cashel road) indicate quite widespread distribution of Bronze Age settlement in this part of north Cork. The most obvious of these were the circular Bronze Age houses: examples were excavated at Mitchelstown, Ballynamona 2 and Kilshanny 1 (Tierney and John-ston 2009, 104). The site at Gortnahown 3 represents much more ephemeral settlement evidence. However, the recovery of the remains of four pottery vessels is unusual, since paucity of finds is a characteristic of Middle to Late Bronze Age domestic sites (Grogan et al 2007, 129).
Iron AgeAn Iron Age date was returned from an isolated hearth in the centre of the site. One other Iron Age date of cal BC 88 – cal AD 54 (UB-13174) was returned from a pit at Gortna-hown 1 E2423 (Area 1).
All the evidence from Gortnahown 3 and indeed Gortnahown 1 and Gortnahown 2 suggests that occupation of this area on the eastern bank of the Gradoge River extended over at least an area of 750 m north-south and was prolonged through time.
Gortnahown 3-E2477
25
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2477-gortnahown3-co-cork/
9 ReferencesBarry, T. (1987) The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland. London, Methuen & Co. Ltd.
Bence-Jones, M. (1996) A Guide to Irish County Houses. London, Constable & Co. Ltd.
Cleary, R.M. and Hurley, M.F. (eds) (2003) Excavations in Cork city 1984-2000. Cork City Council.
Clinton, M. (2001) The Souterrains of Ireland. Bray, Wordwell.
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.
Daly, A. and Grogan, E (1992) ‘Excavation of Four Barrows in Mitchelstowndown West, Knocklong, Co. Limerick’, Discovery Programme Reports 1. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.
Doody, M. (1995) ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 2, 12-44. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.
Doody, M. (1999) ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 5, 97-110. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.
Doody, M. (2007) Excavations at Curaghatoor, Co. Tipperary. Cork, UCC Department of Archaeology Archaeological Monograph.
Gardiner, M.J. and Radford,T. (1980) Soil Assocaitions of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.
Gowen, M. (1988) Three Irish Gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Dublin, Wordwell.
Grogan, E., O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. (2007) The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.
Lewis, S. (1988) Lewis’ Cork: A Topographical Dictionary of the Parishes, Towns and Villages of Cork City and County. Cork, Collins Press.
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Lynn, C.J. (1986) Houses and other related outbuildings in Early Christian Ireland. Unpublished PhD thesis, University College Dublin.
Lynn, C.J. (1978) Early Christian period domestic structures: a change from round to rectangular. Irish Archaeological Research Forum. 5, 29-45.
Lynn, C.J. (1994) Houses in Rural Ireland, A.D.500-1000. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 57, 81-94.
Monk, M. (1995) A Tale of Two Ringforts Lisleagh I and II Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol.100, 105-116.
Murphy, T. F. (1961) A ringfort at Oldcourt, Co. Cork in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol. 66, 79-92.
O’Conor, K. (1998) The archaeology of medieval rural settlement in Ireland. Discovery Programme Monographs No 3, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.
O’Donoghue. J. (2010) Archaeological excavations at Gortnahown 2 E2423. Unpublished report Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
O’Sullivan, A. and Harney, L. (2008) Early Medieval Archaeology Project, Investing the character of early medieval archaeological excavations 1970-2002. Report for the Heritage Council.
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. Dublin, The Stationery Office.
Power, B. (1996) From the Danes to Dairygold A History of Mitchelstown. Mount Cashell Books.
Power, B. (2002) Images of Mitchelstown, Stories and pictures from my own place. Mount Cashell Books.
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, 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.
Gortnahown 3-E2477
27
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2477-gortnahown3-co-cork/
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) ‘Killydonoghoe’ Bennett, I. (Ed) Excavations 2001. Bray, Wordwell.
Sleeman, A.G., & McConnell, B. (1995) Geology of East Cork-Waterford. Dublin, Geological Survey of Ireland.
Stephens, P. (2007) Confad 3 a unique glimpse into early monastic life in County Westmeath Seanda Issue 2, 42-43. National Roads Authority.
Stout, M. (1997) The Irish Ringfort. Dublin, Four Courts Press.
Tierney, J. and Johnston, P. (2009) ‘No corners! Prehistoric roundhouses on the N8 and N7 in counties Cork’, pp.99 – 108 in Stanley, M., Danaher, E. and Eogan, J. (eds) Dining and Dwelling. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. 6.
Woodman, P. McCarthy, M. and Monaghan, N.T. (1997) ‘The Irish Quaternary Fauna Project’, Quaternary Science Reviews 16 (2), 129-159.
Woodman, P.C. (1989) ‘The Mesolithic in Munster: a preliminary assessment’, pp. 116 – 124 in Bonsall, C. (Ed) The Mesolithic in Europe. Edinburgh, John Donald.
Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’., pp. 1 -10 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Bray, Wordwell.
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
28
App
endi
x 1
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tigra
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Ind
ex
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text
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iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
29
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iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
30
Con
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x 0.
32
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
31
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
imes
nion
s42
Tree
Bow
l Cut
7,
39, 4
0,
4141
2Ir
regu
lar i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
is im
per-
cept
ible
on S
W a
nd N
W; g
radu
al o
n S,
E a
nd W
; and
shar
p el
sew
here
. Si
des a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
ver
tical
ly o
n N
; and
con
vex,
slop
ing
mod
erat
e-ly
else
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s sha
rp o
n N
and
NE;
and
gra
dual
el
sew
here
. Bas
e is i
rreg
ular
in p
lan
and
irreg
ular
in p
rofil
e.
3.60
x 1
.30
x 0.
60
44H
eart
h Fi
ll66
1
66So
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
blac
k sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f coa
rse s
ub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of s
mal
l cha
rcoa
l pi
eces
and
bur
nt b
one p
iece
s. Fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.42
x 0
.42
x 0.
05
45Pi
t Fill
58
158
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
redd
ish, g
reyi
sh b
lack
silty
cla
y. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lu-
sions
of c
oars
e sub
-ang
ular
peb
bles
and
smal
l and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar
stone
s. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r peb
bles
. Fre
quen
t in
clusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
0.46
x 0
.26
x 0.
16
46Pi
t Fill
49
149
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
ligh
t bro
wni
sh b
lack
cla
yey
silt.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns
of fi
ne a
ngul
ar, s
ub-a
ngul
ar, s
ub-ro
unde
d an
d ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. O
c-ca
siona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
ang
ular
, sub
-ang
ular
, sub
-roun
ded
and
roun
ded;
and
coa
rse a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
cha
rcoa
l fle
cks.
0.51
x 0
.48
x 0.
08
47Pi
t Fill
63
163
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wni
sh b
lack
cla
yey
silt.
Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
, sub
-ang
ular
, sub
-roun
ded
and
roun
ded
pebb
les;
and
smal
l an
d m
ediu
m a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
med
ium
and
coa
rse p
ebbl
es a
nd sm
all c
harc
oal p
iece
s.
0.52
x 0
.45
x 0.
09
48Pi
t Fill
50
150
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck c
laye
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f med
ium
an
gula
r and
sub-
angu
lar;
and
coar
se a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
b-bl
es. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s. Fr
eque
nt in
clusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
0.35
x 0
.29
x 0.
07
49Pi
t Cut
46
462
Sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan.
Cor
ners
are
squa
re o
n S;
roun
ded
else
whe
re. B
reak
of
slop
e at t
op is
shar
p on
SW
and
NW
; gra
dual
else
whe
re. S
ides
are
co
ncav
e, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely o
n W
; and
gen
tly el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is s
ub-c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d co
ncav
e in
prof
ile.
0.51
x 0
.48
x 0.
08
50Pi
t Cut
48
4820
Squa
re in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
ar
e sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly o
n SW
; and
con
cave
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely el
se-
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s sha
rp o
n N
E; im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Ba
se is
squa
re in
pla
n an
d fla
t in
prof
ile.
0.35
x 0
.29
x 0.
07
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
32
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
imes
nion
s51
Stak
ehol
e51
511
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed b
lack
silt.
Fre
quen
t inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks. S
ub-
circ
ular
in p
lan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Sid
es
slope
stee
ply
and
are s
moo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is
circ
ular
in p
lan
and
has a
tape
red
roun
ded
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.13
x 0
.11 x
0.1
0
52St
akeh
ole
5252
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
10
53St
akeh
ole
5353
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.04
x 0
.04
x 0.
06
54St
akeh
ole
5454
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Sub
-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slo
pe st
eepl
y an
d ar
e sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.06
x 0
.04
x 0.
06
55St
akeh
ole
5555
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Sub
-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slo
pe st
eepl
y an
d ar
e sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.05
x 0
.04
x 0.
06
56St
akeh
ole
5656
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.07
x 0
.07
x 0.
07
57St
akeh
ole
5757
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Sub
-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slo
pe st
eepl
y an
d ar
e sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.12
x 0
.10
x 0.
06
58Pi
t Cut
45
452
Sub-
rect
angu
lar i
n pl
an w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at
top.
Sid
es a
re c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
S an
d W
; and
stee
ply
else
whe
re. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
on
S, W
, SW
and
NW
; and
sh
arp
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s sub
-rect
angu
lar i
n pl
an a
nd c
onca
ve in
pro
file.
0.46
x 0
.26
x 0.
16
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
33
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
imes
nion
s59
Stak
ehol
e59
591
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n sa
ndy
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es. O
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 ste
eply
and
are
con
vex.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is
grad
ual.
Base
is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.09
x 0
.08
x 0.
12
60C
ut o
f pos
-sib
le cle
aran
ce
feat
ure
20
, 48
202
Irre
gula
r in
plan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Si
des a
re ir
regu
lar,
slopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
N; s
moo
th, s
lopi
ng m
oder
-at
ely o
n S;
and
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng st
eepl
y el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is
grad
ual o
n N
; sha
rp o
n N
W a
nd im
perc
eptib
le el
sew
here
. Bas
e is
irreg
ular
in p
lan
and
flat i
n pr
ofile
. Tru
ncat
ed b
y C
50 in
S.
3 x
1.12
x 0
.25
61St
akeh
ole
6161
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
06
62St
akeh
ole
6262
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.08
x 0
.08
x 0.
13
63Pi
t Cut
47
472
Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
and
base
. Sid
es sl
ope
gent
ly a
nd a
re c
onca
ve. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
conc
ave i
n pr
ofile
. 0.
52 x
0.4
5 x
0.09
64H
eart
h Fi
ll75
1
75So
ftly
com
pact
ed d
ark
brow
nish
bla
ck c
laye
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns
of m
ediu
m su
b-an
gula
r and
sub-
roun
ded
pebb
les.
Freq
uent
inclu
sions
of
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks a
nd sm
all p
iece
s.
0.36
x 0
.28
x 0.
08
66H
eart
h C
ut
4444
2C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. Im
perc
eptib
le br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
and
bas
e. Si
des
slope
gen
tly a
nd a
re ir
regu
lar.
Base
is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d fla
t in
prof
ile.
0.42
x 0
.42
x 0.
05
67St
akeh
ole
6767
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Sub
-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slo
pe st
eepl
y an
d ar
e sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.07
x 0
.06
x 0.
11
68St
akeh
ole
6868
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k bl
ack
silt.
Freq
uent
inclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.04
x 0
.04
x 0.
06
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
imes
nion
s69
Stak
ehol
e69
691
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed b
lack
silt.
Fre
quen
t inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l flec
ks.
Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p. S
ides
slop
e ste
eply
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
and
has
a tap
ered
roun
ded
poin
t in
prof
ile.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
07
70St
akeh
ole
7070
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
07
71St
akeh
ole
7171
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
05
72St
akeh
ole
7272
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. F
requ
ent i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
06
73St
akeh
ole
7373
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.06
x 0
.06
x 0.
07
74St
akeh
ole
7474
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. Sub
-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s. Sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e at t
op. S
ides
slo
pe st
eepl
y an
d ar
e sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.08
x 0
.05
x 0.
06
75H
eart
h C
ut
6464
2Su
b-ci
rcul
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 E
and
NE;
gra
dual
on
S an
d SE
; and
shar
p el
sew
here
. Si
des a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly o
n E;
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng st
eepl
y on
W;
conc
ave,
slopi
ng st
eepl
y on
N; a
nd sm
ooth
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely o
n S.
Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is i
mpe
rcep
tible
on E
, NE
and
SE; a
nd g
radu
al
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s sub
-circ
ular
in p
lan
and
flat i
n pr
ofile
.
0.36
x 0
.28
x 0.
08
76St
akeh
ole
7676
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k bl
ack
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of f
ine s
ub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s and
cha
rcoa
l flec
ks. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n.
Shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
and
bas
e. Si
des a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly
on W
; ver
tical
ly el
sew
here
. Bas
e is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
. Sta
keho
le is
incl
ined
E.
0.05
x 0
.04
x 0.
06
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
imes
nion
s77
Stak
ehol
e77
771
2Ve
ry so
ftly
com
pact
ed m
id b
row
n sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l fle
cks.
Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top
is sh
arp
on S
; gra
dual
else
-w
here
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
stee
ply
on S
; and
mod
erat
ely el
sew
here
. Br
eak
of sl
ope a
t bas
e is g
radu
al. B
ase i
s ova
l in
plan
and
has
a ta
pere
d bl
unt p
oint
in p
rofil
e.
0.07
x 0
.07
x 0.
06
78St
akeh
ole
7878
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wn
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal
fleck
s. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. B
reak
of s
lope
at to
p is
grad
ual o
n N
; sha
rp
else
whe
re. S
ides
are
smoo
th, s
lopi
ng m
oder
ately
on
N; a
nd v
ertic
ally
el
sew
here
. 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
blun
t poi
nt in
pro
file.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
06
79St
akeh
ole
7979
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wn
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal
fleck
s. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. B
reak
of s
lope
at to
p is
grad
ual o
n E;
shar
p el
sew
here
. Sid
es a
re sm
ooth
, slo
ping
mod
erat
ely o
n E;
and
ver
tical
ly
else
whe
re. 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 ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
. Sta
keho
le is
incl
ined
from
W.
0.09
x 0
.06
x 0.
08
80St
akeh
ole
8080
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
mid
bro
wn
silt.
Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal
fleck
s. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
ly
and
are s
moo
th. B
reak
of s
lope
at b
ase i
s gra
dual
. Bas
e is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d co
ncav
e in
prof
ile.
0.06
x 0
.05
x 0.
09
81Pi
t Cut
8
82
Sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope a
t top
. Si
des a
re c
onca
ve, s
lopi
ng st
eepl
y on
N; a
nd m
oder
ately
else
whe
re.
Brea
k of
slop
e at b
ase i
s im
perc
eptib
le on
S a
nd W
; gra
dual
else
whe
re.
Base
is su
b-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d fla
t in
prof
ile.
1.12
x 0
.95
x 0.
17
82St
akeh
ole
8282
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.05
x 0
.05
x 0.
06
83St
akeh
ole
8383
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
dar
k br
own
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
. Ova
l in
plan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
at to
p. S
ides
slop
e ver
tical
ly a
nd a
re sm
ooth
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is
grad
ual.
Base
is c
ircul
ar in
pla
n an
d ha
s a ta
pere
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.08
x 0
.07
x 0.
17
86Bu
rnt N
atur
al
Subs
oil
12
Loos
ely c
ompa
cted
pin
kish
bro
wn
sand
. Occ
asio
nal i
nclu
sions
of
med
ium
ang
ular
peb
bles
. Mod
erat
e inc
lusio
ns o
f fin
e ang
ular
and
sub-
angu
lar p
ebbl
es.
0.55
x 0
.38
x ?
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
imes
nion
s87
Burn
t Nat
ural
Su
bsoi
l
11
2So
ftly
com
pact
ed li
ght y
ello
wish
red
clay
ey si
lt.0.
99 x
0.5
0 x
?
88Pi
t Cut
4
42
Sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan
with
roun
ded
corn
ers.
Brea
k of
slop
e at t
op is
im
perc
eptib
le on
N a
nd N
E; g
radu
al o
n E
and
SE; s
harp
else
whe
re.
Side
s are
irre
gula
r, slo
ping
stee
ply
on W
; con
vex,
slop
ing
steep
ly o
n S;
an
d sm
ooth
, slo
ping
gen
tly el
sew
here
. Bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
bas
e is g
radu
al
on S
and
SE;
impe
rcep
tible
on N
, E a
nd N
E; sh
arp
else
whe
re. B
ase i
s su
b-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n an
d co
ncav
e in
prof
ile.
1.75
x 1
.10
x 0.
17
89St
akeh
ole
8989
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
med
ium
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
. Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p an
d ba
se.
Side
s slo
pe v
ertic
ally
and
are
smoo
th. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
has a
ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.08
x 0
.08
x 0.
10
90St
akeh
ole
9090
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
med
ium
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t. O
ccas
iona
l inc
lusio
ns o
f ch
arco
al fl
ecks
. Circ
ular
in p
lan.
Sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
at to
p an
d ba
se.
Side
s slo
pe v
ertic
ally
and
are
smoo
th. B
ase i
s circ
ular
in p
lan
and
has a
ta
pere
d ro
unde
d po
int i
n pr
ofile
.
0.13
x 0
.13
x 0.
14
91St
akeh
ole
9191
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.10
x 0
.10
x 0.
12
92St
akeh
ole
9292
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.14
x 0
.12
x 0.
25
93St
akeh
ole
9393
12
Softl
y co
mpa
cted
bla
ck si
lt. M
oder
ate i
nclu
sions
of c
harc
oal f
lecks
. C
ircul
ar in
pla
n. S
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe at
top.
Sid
es sl
ope s
teep
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
.
0.08
x 0
.08
x 0.
15
Gortnahown 3-E2477
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Appendix 2 Site matrix
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
38
Gortnahown 3-E2477
39
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2477-gortnahown3-co-cork/
Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups
Group 1
Sub-group 1A - PitsFigures: 1-2, 4-6, 13, 15-16 and 19-20.Plates: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 31, 33, 36, 38, 47, 50 and 53.Contexts: C.23 (C.5), C.42 (C.7, C.39, C.40 and C.41), C.49 (C.46), C.50 (C.48), C.58 (C.45), C.60 (C.20), C.63 (C.47), C.81 (C.8) and C.88 (C.4).
Description:
Sub-group 1A consists of nine pits (C.23, C.42, C.49, C.50, C.58, C.60, C.63, C.81 and C.88). There were three pits in the south-west corner of the site (C.42, C.49 and C.63). C.42 was an irregular shaped pit with an irregular base and dimensions of 3.60m in length, 1.30m in width and 0.60m in depth. The top fill (C.7) was greyish brown sandy silt with stone and charcoal inclusions, fifty six sherds of pottery were recovered from this fill as well as nineteen wedge shaped stones. The next fill down (C.39) was made up of brownish yellow silty sand with pebble and charcoal inclusions; it produced twenty six sherds of pottery, including one decorated piece. Fill C.40 was dark greyish brown silt with inclusions of charcoal flecks and small pieces and the basal fill (C.41) which was 0.32m deep was com-posed of sandy silt.
Located just south of C.42, C.49 and C.63 were very similar sub-circular and circular shaped pits. C.49 was 0.51m long, 0.48m wide and 0.08m deep and C.63 was 0.52m long, 0.45m wide and 0.09m deep. They both contained a single fill of brownish black clayey silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.
To the north of the above mentioned pits was a group of features that included three pits (C.23, C.50 and C.60). C.60 was a large irregular shaped pit with dimensions of 3m in length, 1.12m in width and 0.25m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.20) of brownish orange sand. Truncating C.60 was a smaller pit (C.50) which was square in plan with a flat base and dimensions of 0.35m in length, 0.29m in width and 0.07m in depth. It con-tained a single fill (C.48) of soft black clayey silt which produced a piece of flint debitage and a sherd of decorated pottery. C.23 was located to the west of this group of features. It was a circular pit with a concave base and a single fill (C.5) of mid grey sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal; three sherds of pottery were also recovered from this fill.
C.81 and C.88 were located in the south-east corner of the site. C.81 was sub-circular with a flat base and dimensions of 1.12m in length, 0.95m in width and 0.17m in depth; it contained a single fill (C.8) of dark greyish brown sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal. C.88, to the west of C.81 was sub-circular with a concave base and dimensions of 1.75m in length, 1.10m in width and 0.17m in depth. This pit contained a
iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport
40
single fill (C.4) of mid brown silty clay with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal; a piece of flint debitage was also produced from this fill.
A small pit (C.58) was excavated in the north-east corner of the site. This was sub-rectangular with a concave base and dimensions of 0.46m in length, 0.26m in width and 0.16m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.45) of mid reddish, greyish black silty clay with inclusions of pebbles, stones and charcoal.
Interpretation:
C.42 would appear to have been created by the removal of a tree. Its irregular shape and size would support this theory. The fills indicate that it was backfilled quite soon after the tree was removed. The two lower fills would have been the immediate backfill containing organic material from the tree and its roots and the top two fills that contained pottery and stones suggest deliberate backfill by human activity. Analysis of the pottery should help to date this feature.
The function of the two pits (C.49 and C.63) to the south of C.42 is unclear. They are a regular shape so would appear to have been created by human activity; it is possible that they were used as storage pits.
There were three pits to the north of C.42 (C.23, C.50 and C.60). C.60 was a large irregular pit suggesting that it too was created during the process of land clearance. C.50 was truncating C.60, the charcoal, flint and pottery (Early Bronze Age?) in its fill indicate that it was deliberately backfilled by human activity. It was probably dug to use for the deposition of waste material from the nearby hearth (C.87).
C.23 was located just south-west of the hearth to which it is very likely associated, a large amount of charcoal and a piece of pottery in the fill suggests that it was used for the deposition of material from the hearth.
C.58 in the north-east corner of the site would appear to be related to the nearby hearth (C.66) and was likely to have been dug for the deposition of material from the hearth; charcoal in the fill supports this theory.
The two pits located in the south-east of the site (C.81 and C.88) did not reveal an obvious function, however, flint recovered from the fill of C.88 suggests a prehistoric date and charcoal in their fills is indicative of human activity.
Further examination of the pottery finds from these features, as well as analysis of charcoal and soil samples, should help to date and thus enhance our understanding of this site.
Sub-group 1B - PostholesFigures: 2 and 14.Plates: 12-14, 16 and 18.Contexts: C.25 (C.24), C.33 (C.26) and C.35 (C.34).
Description:
There are three postholes in sub-group 1B (C.25, C.33 and C.35).
Gortnahown 3-E2477
41
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2477-gortnahown3-co-cork/
C.25 was located just north of a group of features set around a hearth (C.11). It was a circular posthole with a concave base and dimensions of 0.22m in length, 0.20m in width and 0.13m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.24) of mid brown clayey silt with inclu-sions of pebbles and stones.
C.33 and C.35 were located in the far north-east of the site. C.33 had dimensions of 0.36m in length, 0.33m in width and 0.43m in depth and C.35 had dimensions of 0.35m in length, 0.32m in width and 0.46m in depth. They were both circular in plan with bases that tapered to a rounded point. They were filled with brown silty clay with pebble, stone and charcoal inclusions.
Interpretation:
The two postholes in the north-east corner of the site were very similar and so were most likely in use at the same time, they would have been dug to hold posts. However, it is not clear what their function would have been. As they were located very close to the site boundary it is possible that there were more postholes that were not discovered due to the limitations of the excavation. It is also possible that they were associated with an area of activity around the nearby hearth (C.66).
C.25 was a posthole also dug to facilitate the insertion of a post. It was located just north of a series of activity around a hearth (C.87) to which it is most likely related.
Sub-group 1C - Stake-holesFigures: 2, 16, 17, 19 and 20.Plates: 9, 11, 17, 21, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37, 40-43, 45, 49, 51 and 52. Contexts: C.12, C.13, C.14, C.15, C.16, C.17, C.51, C.52, C.53, C.54, C.55, C.56, C.57, C.59, C.61, C.62, C.67, C.68, C.69, C.70, C.71, C.72, C.73, C.74, C.76, C.77, C.78, C.79, C.80, C.82, C.83, C.89, C.90, C.91, C.92 and C.93.
Description:
Sub-group 1C consists of thirty six stake-holes. Eighteen stake-holes were located around a hearth (C.66) in the north-east corner of the site (C.51, C.52, C.53, C.54, C.55, C.56, C.57, C.61, C.62, C.67, C.68, C.69, C.70, C.71, C.72, C.73, C.74 and C.82). These ranged between 0.04 and 0.13m in length, 0.04 and 0.11m in width and 0.05 and 0.13m in depth. They were either circular or sub-circular in plan with bases that tapered to a rounded point; they were all filled with softly compacted black silt with inclusions of charcoal flecks.
A further eight stake-holes were located towards the east of the site. Seven of these (C.12, C.13, C.14, C.15, C.16, C.17 and C.76) were set around a hearth (C.87). These ranged between 0.05 and 0.10m in length, 0.04 and 0.09m in width and 0.06 and 0.18m in depth. They were all circular or sub-circular in plan and contained a single fill generally composed of black silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.
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C.59 was located just east of these stake-holes next to pit C.60. It was oval with a base that tapered to a rounded point. Its dimensions were 0.09m in length, 0.08m in width and 0.12m in depth and it contained a single fill of mid brown sandy silt with occasional inclusions of pebbles.
Roughly five metres to the south-east of the above mentioned stake-holes were seven more stake-holes (C.77, C.78, C.79, C.80, C.91, C.92 and C.93) aligned north-east/south-west through the centre of the site. They ranged between 0.05 and 0.14m in length, 0.05 and 0.12m in width and 0.06 and 0.25m in depth and contained a single fill that varied between black silt and brown silt with inclusions of charcoal flecks.
C.89 and C.90 were adjacent to pit C.88 in the south-east corner of the site. C.89 was circular in plan with a diameter of 0.08m and a depth of 0.10m. C.90 was circular in plan with a diameter of 0.13m. They were both filled with mid brown sandy silt with occasional inclusions of charcoal flecks.
C.83 was located in the extreme south-east corner of the site. It was oval in plan with a base that tapered to a point. The dimensions of this stake-hole were 0.08m in length, 0.07m in diameter and 0.17m in depth. It was filled with dark brown sandy silt with oc-casional inclusions of charcoal flecks.
Interpretation:
The eighteen stake-holes surrounding hearth C.66 in the north-east corner of the site would appear to be evidence of a windbreak or spit structure used in conjunction with the hearth.
The seven stake-holes surrounding C.87 would seem to indicate the presence of a spit or grill like structure over the hearth.
The seven stake-holes aligned through the centre of the site (C.77, C.78, C.79, C.80, C.91, C.92 and C.93) are most probably evidence of a windbreak type of construction.
The other stake-holes around the site do not seem to be associated with any type of structure and are probably just from the insertion of single stakes, maybe used for hang-ing things on.
Sub-group 1D - HearthsFigures: 16 and 18.Plates: 27, 29, 32, 34, 35, 39 and 46.Contexts: C.66 (C.44), C.75 (C.64) and C. 87 (C.11).
Description:
There are three hearths in sub-group 1D (C.66, C.75 and C.87). C.66 was located in the north-east corner of the site. It was circular in plan and had a flat base. This hearth had a diameter of 0.42m and a depth of 0.05m; it contained a single fill (C.44) of dark black silt with inclusions of pebbles, charcoal and pieces of burnt bone.
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C.75 was c. 8.5m west of C.66. This was a small hearth with dimensions of 0.36m in length, 0.28m in width and 0.08m in depth. It was filled with dark brownish black clayey silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.
C.87 was an area of burnt natural subsoil located towards the east of the site. It was 0.99m in length and 0.50m in width and consisted of light yellowish red clayey silt. Above C.87 was a spread (C.11) consisting of dark brownish black silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.
Interpretation:
C.66 was surrounded by stake-holes and filled with charcoal indicating that it was used for cooking in a domestic capacity.
C.75 was very small; the charcoal rich fill implied that it was used as a hearth; it could be the remains of a fire that was created inside a natural hollow or possibly just a charcoal rich deposit from another feature.
C.87 was an area of burnt natural subsoil below a charcoal rich spread, it appeared to be the remains of a hearth, and stake-holes surrounding it suggested that a spit like struc-ture was built over the hearth, again signifying cooking in a domestic capacity.
Sub-group 1E - Stone SurfaceFigures: 3Plates: 22 and 23Contexts: C.38
Description:
Located in the south-east of the site the stone surface (C.38) in sub-group 1E was 2.78m in length and 1.34m in width. It was made up of mid brown silty sand with inclusions of pebbles and stones, many of the stones were between 0.2 and 0.3m in length.
Interpretation:
The stone surface was probably part of a larger surface that has since been destroyed. It was most likely created for easier access in this area of the site and was probably related to nearby pits C.88 and C.81.
Sub-group 1F - Burnt Natural SubsoilFigures: 2, 17 and 20.Plates: 3, 8, 48 and 51.Contexts: C.9 and C.86.
Description:
Sub-group 1F consists of two areas of burnt natural sub-soil (C.9 and C.86).
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They were both located in the southern extent of the site. C.9 was light red in colour with a diameter of 0.40m. C.86 was 0.55m long and 0.38m wide and consisted of pinkish brown sand with inclusions of pebbles.
Interpretation:
The two areas of burnt natural subsoil indicate that burning occurred, probably in the form of a small fire.
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Appendix 4 Finds register
Area #
Context #
NMI Find #
Category Fabric Artefact type
Short Description/Comments
Date Ini-tials
1 4 1 Stone Flint Flake Debitage 01/06/2007 JOD1 5 1 Ceramic Pottery Body
Sherdsx3 29/05/2007 PR
1 7 1 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
29/05/2007 PJ
1 7 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 3 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 4 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 5 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x2 30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 6 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x3 29/05/2007 PJ
1 7 7 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x4 30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 8 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x4 30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 9 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x7 30/05/2007 PJ
1 7 10 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x2 31/05/2007 PJ
1 7 11 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 12 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x2 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 13 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x4 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 14 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 15 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 16 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x7 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 17 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x3 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 18 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x4 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 7 19 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds
x7 31/05/2007 PR/PJ
1 48 1 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
Decorated 31/05/2007 PS
1 48 2 Stone Flint Core 31/05/2007 PS1 39 1 Ceramic Pottery Body
Sherdsx2 31/05/2007 PR/
PJ1 39 2 Ceramic Pottery Crumbs x4 30/05/2007 PR 1 39 3 Ceramic Pottery Body
Sherdsx2 31/05/2007 PR/
PJ1 39 4 Ceramic Pottery Body
Sherdsx15 01/06/2007 PR/
PJ
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1 39 5 Ceramic Pottery Crumbs x5 01/06/2007 PR/PJ
1 39 6 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
01/06/2007 PR/PJ
1 39 7 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
01/06/2007 PR/PJ
1 39 8 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd
Decorated 01/06/2007 PR/PJ
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Appendix 5 Plant remains
By Penny Johnston
IntroductionThis short report details the results of plant remains analysis from Gortnahown 3, Co. Cork (E2477). The site comprised a series of prehistoric features, including structural features (stake-holes and post-holes), pits and hearths.
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.
ResultsThe results of preliminary scanning are presented in Table 1. A total of 14 samples were scanned. Seeds were recovered from just three samples: C.34 (S.6), C.45 (S.14) and C.47 (C.29).
Sample Context % scanned Charcoal Seeds1 24 100 Low Absent3 26 100 Low Absent5 5 100 Medium Absent6 34 100 Medium Low14 45 100 Low Low20 53 100 Absent Absent22 55 100 Low Absent24 20 100 Low Absent28 12 100 Low Absent29 47 100 Low Low33 8 100 Medium Absent34 77 100 Low Absent37 80 100 Low Absent39 4 100 Low Absent
Table1:ScannedsamplesfromGortnahown3,Co�Cork(E2477)
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Where plant material was found, it was only retrieved in small quantities. The identi-fied material (presented in Table 2) included hazelnut shell fragments, barley grains and a small amount of weed seeds.
Context 47 34 45Sample 29 6 14Hazelnut shell fragments (Corylus avellana L.) 4Cleavers (Galium aparine L.) 2Barley grains (Hordeum vulgare L.) 1 4Indeterminate cereal grains 1
Table2:PlantmaterialinsamplesfromGortnahown3,Co�Cork(E2477)
Hazelnut shell fragments are a ubiquitous find in archaeobotanical assemblages in Ireland. Hazelnut shell is a waste product, not directly consumed, but removed before the nut was eaten, and therefore very likely to be burnt with domestic rubbish. The nut shell is hard and resistant to decay, this ensures that it survives archaeologically. These combined factors ensure that fragments of hazelnut shells are commonly found in charred plant remains assemblages dating to a great variety of periods (Monk 2000).
The only cereal type found was barley. This is a common cereal type recovered from Irish prehistoric deposits; more likely to be found in Bronze Age (see Johnston 2007, 73) rather than Neolithic assemblages, but known from both periods and from occasional assemblages dated to the Iron Age.
ReferencesJohnston, P. 2007 Analysis of Carbonised Plant Remains, pp. 70 – 79 in Grogan, E.,
O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.
Monk, M. 2000 Seeds and soils of discontent. An environmental archaeological contribution to the nature of the early Neolithic. In Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. (eds.) New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Bray, Wordwell.
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Appendix 6 Lithics report
by Farina Sternke
IntroductionTwo lithic finds from the archaeological excavations of prehistoric domestic site in the townland of Gortnahown 3, Co. Cork were presented for analysis (Table 1). The finds are associated with two pits, a series of stakeholes and a hearth.
Con-text
Material Type Cortex Condi-tion
Length (mm)
Width (mm)
Thickn. (mm)
Com-plete
Re-touch
4 Flint Debitage48 Flint Core Yes Burnt 32 14 20 No No
Table1CompositionofthelithicassemblagefromGortnahown3(E2477)
MethodologyAll lithic artefacts were examined visually and catalogued using Microsoft Excel. The following details were recorded for each artefact which measured at least 2 cm in length or width: context information, raw material type, artefact type, the presence of cortex, artefact condition, length, with and thickness measurements, fragmentation and the type of retouch (where applicable). The technological criteria recorded are based on the termi-nology and technology presented in Inizan et al. 1999. The general typological and mor-phological classifications are based on Woodman et al. 2006. Struck lithics smaller than 2 cm were classed as debitage and were not analysed further. The same applies to natural chunks and pebbles. The condition of macro tools was not noted, as they are rarely af-fected by the elements due to their raw material composition.
QuantificationThe lithics are two flaked pieces of flint. One artefact is larger than 2 cm in length and width and was therefore recorded in detail
ProvenanceThe artefacts were recovered from the two pit fills (c. 4 and c. 48).
Condition:The one recorded lithic (E2477:48:2) survives in burnt, incomplete condition and bears the remnants of cortex.
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Technology/Morphology: The lithics are a piece of flint debitage (E2477:4:1) and a core (E2477:48:2). The core is a bipolar example which was produced on a split pebble and measures 32 mm long, 14 mm wide and 20 mm thick.
Dating:The lithics which are typologically undiagnostic may be dated to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age on technological grounds, i.e. the use of a bipolar technology (O’Hare 2005).
ConservationLithics do not require specific conversation, but should be stored in a dry, stable environ-ment. Preferably, each lithic should be bagged separately and contact with other lithics should be avoided, so as to prevent damage and breakage, in particular edge damage which could later be misinterpreted as retouch. Larger and heavier items are best kept in individual boxes to avoid crushing of smaller assemblage pieces.
Comparative MaterialLate Neolithic/Early Bronze Age material was recently recovered at the nearby sites of Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Co. Cork (Sternke 2007a) and Ballinglanna North 2 (E2415), Co. Cork (Sternke 2007b).
DiscussionFlint is available in larger and smaller nodules along the Cork coast or in the glacial tills. The use of a limited single platform and bipolar technology on small to medium sized pebbles is in parts the result of this availability. The majority of these flint nodules are rather small pebbles with an average dimension of 4-6 cm and often only permit the use of a bipolar or scalar technology to efficiently reduce the nodule achieving a maxi-mum outcome, i.e. the largest possible amount of suitable and usable blanks. The result is the regionally dominant split pebble scalar (Late Neolithic) and bipolar (Neolithic and Bronze Age) character of the south-western lithic assemblages.
The core and piece of debitage recovered at Gortnahown 3 form part of this type of assemblage.
SummaryThe two lithic finds from the archaeological excavation at Gortnahown 3 (E2477), Co. Cork are a bipolar flint core and a piece of debitage which represent deposited waste as-sociated with a limited flint knapping at the site.
This site is of minor archaeological importance.
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BibliographyInizan, M.-L., M. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche and J. Tixier 1999. Technology and
Terminology of Knapped Stone 5. CREP, Nanterre.
O’Hare, M. B., 2005. The Bronze Age Lithics of Ireland. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Queen’s University of Belfast.
Sternke, F., 2007a. Lithics Finds Report for Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Co. Cork - N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown Road Project. Unpublished Report for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Sternke, F., 2007b. Lithics Finds Report for Ballinglanna North 2 (E2415), Co. Cork - N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown Road Project. Unpublished Report for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Woodman, P.C., E. Anderson and N. Finlay, 1999. Excavations at Ferriter’s Cove, 1983-95: last foragers, first farmers in the Dingle Peninsula. Wordwell, Bray.
Woodman, P. C., Finlay, N. and E. Anderson, 2006. The Archaeology of a Collection: The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. National Museum of Ireland Monograph Series 2. Wordwell, Bray.