2007:AD14 - CAHERDRINNY (2), Cork

Phase 2 excavation works were undertaken, on behalf of Cork County Council, along the route of the N8 Fermoy–Mitchelstown bypass. The proposed bypass involves the construction of c. 16km of dual carriageway extending from Gortore north of Fermoy to Carrigane north-east of Mitchelstown. A programme of advance testing (Phase 1) had been carried out in October 2005, the results of which appeared in Excavations 2005.

The site was situated on well-drained sloping ground. A cluster of ten pits and post-holes, a series of plough furrows and a small feature containing charcoal located 5m south of the main cluster of features was excavated.

The main feature was a roughly circular arrangement of burnt posts. Five of these posts were large and deep and contained the remains of in situ burnt wooden posts. Four showed evidence of subsoil packing to help keep them upright. Though these posts did not form a distinct pattern, they were spaced far enough apart to form a rudimentary structure. The additional post-holes were smaller and shallower and suggested either that they were badly truncated, or that they had a supporting function for the larger post-holes.

A deposit of burnt bone was found between two post-holes. This deposit, sitting directly on the ground surface, suggests that it was either deliberately placed there or that it was simply left where it fell after a fire.

No evidence of fire-reddened soil was found at the site, suggesting perhaps that burning took place above the ground surface and that the posts then smouldered down to their bases, not producing sufficient heat to leave a scorched residue. This may suggest a raised pyre.