2007:AD18 - GLENATLUCKY (1), 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 at Glenatlucky 1 is situated on relatively flat ground north of the Kilworth Hills. Four post-holes, a hearth, three pits including one cremation pit, one stake-hole and four linear features were excavated.

One pit contained an encrusted urn and two flint pieces, a slug knife and a blade. There was a selection of cremated bone (probably an entire or almost entire adult) within the pit fill. The pottery suggests an Early Bronze Age date, c. 2000–1800 BC.

A linear feature and a pit may have also been associated with the cremation burial. The linear feature was L-shaped and possibly served as a barrier into the area of the cremation. However, this feature was not very substantial. The pit resembled a cremation on the surface and it contained large quantities of charcoal; however, there was no evidence for burnt bone. The fill of this pit was cut by a stake-hole. The final pit contained pottery and flint finds as well as charcoal and heat-affected clay. It was interpreted as a hearth or a possible kiln.

Four post-holes surrounded a deposit of hearth material. The post-holes probably represent hearth furniture. The hearth deposit was truncated. There is no evidence to connect this hearth to other features at the site such as the cremation deposit.

Three post-medieval or modern linear features were excavated at the site. Two of the linear features were probably quite recent as they contained modern pottery. One ran from north to south and the other ran from east to west and they may represent modern drainage features. A third linear feature was also possibly associated with modern drainage of the site, although no modern pottery was recovered from the fill of this feature.