2025:214 - Barnahely 4, Cork

Excavation at Barnahely 4 on the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Scheme revealed
five areas of potential archaeological activity. Stage (iv) post-excavation analysis is still pending. Below is a preliminary bulletin.
The excavation and preliminary assessment of findings at Barnahely 4 revealed prehistoric activity, possibly of Neolithic–Bronze Age date and metalworking of Iron Age or early–later medieval date. Some discontinuous linear features appear related to the earlier prehistoric remains while others are of more modern date and align with those depicted on historic OS mapping. It is hoped that radiocarbon dating of the selected samples and specialist analysis of the artefacts recovered will allow more activity to be dated and the phasing of activity to be refined. The dates obtained for this site will also determine whether it was contemporary to the other activity in neighbouring sites at Barnahely 3 and Shanbally 4.
Sixteen artefacts—including tentatively identified prehistoric pottery, lithics and modern pottery—were recovered during excavations and from subsequent sample processing. Archaeological materials including charcoal were also recovered. Details of these including the circumstances of their recovery are outlined in the report.
Activity in Barnahely A was likely reflated to agriculture, field boundary and drainage. It is possible these represent an early field system; only radiocarbon dates will allow for a full interpretation.
Features in Areas B and C are possibly related to agriculture or field boundary/drainage. Pits in Area D and Area E possibly represent agricultural and/or industrial activity.
The environmental assessment of samples from Area A, D and E indicate the presence of charred grains indicative of prehistoric activity with an identified assemblage comprising mainly of naked barley and probable naked barley, with smaller quantities of barley sp., emmer wheat and probable emmer wheat. The grain assemblage is suggestive of a Neolithic to Bronze Age date.