2025:219 - Loughbeg 2, Cork

Excavation at Loughbeg 2, as part of the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project, Co. Cork, revealed three pits, a charcoal-rich spread and a post-medieval laneway. Stage (iv) post-excavation analysis is still pending. Below is a preliminary bulletin.
The pits and charcoal-rich spread occurred in a cluster in one Area (Area A). The pits contained multiple charcoal-rich fills containing pottery, tentatively identified as Bronze Age in date, lithics, and some fragments of rubbing stones. Some charred cereal grains were also identified but these were rare and in poor condition.

The post-medieval laneway aligns with a lane marked on the first-Edition 6-inch (surveyed 1840/published 1845) and 25-inch (published 1898) OS maps of the area. It led from the coastal road to the north, past a building known as ‘Rock Cottage’, to an unnamed dwelling on the border with Ringaskiddy townland to the south. The unnamed dwelling is no longer extant.
There is no evidence to suggest the site extends beyond the current roadtake, except for the continuation of the post-medieval laneway.
A total of 75 artefacts/potential artefacts including prehistoric and post-medieval pottery, lithics, groundstone fragments, glass and metal finds was recovered during excavations. Archaeological materials in the form of charred plant remains (cereal grain, nutshell and charcoal, a mixture of oak and non-oak) were also recovered.

Area A- 578319, 564151; Area B- 578372, 564168 (cutting centroid).