2002:0254 - CARRIGROHANE 4, Cork

The site was discovered during monitoring for the N22 Ballincollig Bypass Scheme. It was in the townland of Carrigrohane, c. 900m north-east of three possible Bronze Age pits (No. 253 Excavations 2002, 02E0431). An area measuring 10m east–west by 10m was cleaned back by hand. A shallow, circular pit, measuring 0.68m east–west by 0.66m with a maximum depth of 0.11m, was uncovered. This pit contained a dark charcoal-stained fill, within which were frequent sherds of prehistoric (Beaker) pottery. The pit was damaged during topsoil-stripping, disturbing much of its contents. It is quite possible that this feature is the basal remains of a cremation pit of possible Beaker date; radiocarbon samples are currently awaiting analysis. To the south of it were two naturally occurring rectilinear pits, both consisting of sterile homogeneous fills.