2002:0214 - BALLINASPIG MORE 4, Cork

Excavation of archaeological deposits exposed during the monitoring programme for the N22 Ballincollig Bypass Scheme revealed an area represented by three main phases of activity dating from the Bronze Age to the post-medieval period. The site was in the townland of Ballinaspig More, west of the Twopot River. This river divides the site from Ballinaspig More 5 (No. 215, Excavations 2002, 02E1033), which revealed evidence of Bronze Age and post-medieval settlement activity, and a ringfort is situated c. 120m south of the latter site.

Topsoil-stripping in the area of Ballinaspig More 4 revealed a possible cremation pit and a series of unrelated features. These were distributed over an area measuring c. 30m north–south by 120m. They were identified as being the product of post-medieval farming activity, represented by rectilinear cultivation furrows aligned north–south at the southern extent of the site, by two linear drainage ditches, one of which was oriented east–west and the other north–south, and by a number of isolated pits and post-holes. Two large pits and a charcoal-rich spread were revealed at the northern extent of the site, with an average diameter of 2.4m. The spread possibly represented a single episode of burning, owing to the black, charcoal-rich deposit that overlay the subsoil but did not cut into it. The adjacent pit had a similar appearance before excavation, but this feature was cut into the subsoil. It contained three fills and a heavily oxidised base, suggesting more prolonged use. The rectilinear drainage ditch, which traversed the site in an east–west direction, had one fill, which contained a moderate quantity of charcoal and stone inclusions. The other, isolated pits were positioned sporadically across the site and appeared to be disparate features that did not form part of any structures.

The three features initially discovered were possibly the remains of one cremation pit and two post-holes, all of which were probably truncated by modern agricultural activity. These were situated c. 50m east of the main concentration of activity on the site. One of the post-holes accommodated the remains of a post burnt in situ, and the other contained evidence of stone packing. The possible cremation pit was subcircular, 0.56m long, 0.5m wide and 0.12m deep. It contained a single fill of moderately compact, dark brown/black, silty clay. Two sherds of Bronze Age pottery and an extremely small quantity of poorly preserved cremated bone, with individual fragments measuring no greater than 5mm in diameter, were also present in this deposit. The bone was found to the south of the deposit, near the surface.

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