County: Cork Site name: GREENFIELD (2), Greenfield
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0731
Author: Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure, Hearth and Pit
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 557298m, N 569719m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.878018, -8.620198
Test-trenching was undertaken in advance of construction of the N22 Ballincollig Bypass. During this process a number of features were identified in two adjacent fields within the township of Greenfield. All were investigated under the same licence number. The principal features identified are as follows:
1. An oval, post-built enclosure measuring c. 7.8m north–south by 6.3m. The enclosure consisted of thirteen circular post-holes measuring, on average, c. 0.25m in diameter by c. 0.2m in depth. No finds or datable samples were obtained from the fills of the post-holes and no associated features were identified. A single unstratified flint object, a thumbnail scraper, came from the close vicinity.
2. A number of hearths were identified. Some of these were probably the result of tree-burning during land clearance, whilst others were probably of recent date. Two hearths were of more interest and of similar form. These consisted of two adjacent bowl-shaped pits, one larger than the other. The results of analysis of soil samples for both dating and usage are awaited.
3. Various pits, all of which existed in isolation and provided no dating evidence. Only one, a bowl-shaped pit containing part of the articulated skeleton of a sheep/goat, provided any evidence of purpose; however, the survival of bone probably indicates a recent date for the pit.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
