2003:0148 - BALLYBROWNEY LOWER 1, Cork

Testing was carried out in this area in 2002 by Donald Murphy, on behalf of Cork County Council, in advance of construction of the route of the proposed N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass Scheme (Excavations 2002, No. 346, 02E0713–02E0720). A concentration of pits, post-holes and linear features was noted. The site was designated Ballybrowney Lower 1 and full excavation was carried out between July and October 2003.

The site was located on the gentle eastern slope of a low hill which overlooks the Bride River valley to the south and east. Immediately north-west of the site, a bivallate ringfort crowns the summit of the hill. An area extending c. 200m along the road corridor, which was c. 70m wide, was stripped of topsoil. The Bronze Age settlement consisted of three subcircular enclosures (only one of which lay completely within the road-take), one rectangular enclosure (of which only a corner lay within the road-take), three unenclosed circular houses and one apparently flimsy semicircular structure. Later features on the site were a corn-drying kiln, two field boundary ditches, probably of late/post-medieval date, and two more modern field boundaries which were depicted on the 1935 6-inch OS map.

The enclosures
Enclosure 1 was the only one of the four which lay completely within the road-take. It was an irregular shape, arcing in some sections but running straight in others, to give it an almost hexagonal shape, and measured 19m by 21.5m. The enclosing element was a narrow slot-trench (0.35m wide, 0.3m deep), lined for much of its length with flat stones set on edge. Within the stone lining the trench was c. 0.1m wide. While several post-holes were identified in the fill of the trench, the linearity of the surviving sections of stone lining suggests that most of the trench held upright planks. There were two entrances to the enclosure, one at the north-east and one at the south-east. Both comprised two substantial post-holes.

There was one house structure within the enclosure, approximately at its centre. The house was oval in plan and was represented by a slot-trench and several post-holes. It measured 6m by 4m. Two substantial post-holes at the centre of the structure indicated substantial posts supporting the roof. The area had been severely damaged by the double ditches of the post-medieval/modern field boundary, and by extensive rabbit burrowing, so that it was not possible to trace the western arc of the house. The entrance to the house faced south. To the south-east of the house was a figure-of-eight-shaped pit filled with loose stones and soil. Two sherds of cord-impressed Middle Bronze Age pottery were recovered from the fill of this feature. Its function is unclear, but its morphology is similar to that of some corn-drying kilns, though there is no evidence to suggest it was ever used. It may represent later activity on the site.

Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the fill of the enclosure trench and from the house within the enclosure.

Enclosure 2 was located to the north-west of Enclosure 1 and approximately half of it lay within the road-take. The entire enclosure would have measured at least 37m in diameter. The enclosing element in this instance was a ditch, which, for most of its extent, was a shallow U shape, measuring c. 1m wide and 0.3m deep. At its southern end, however, it deepened abruptly to a V shape measuring 1.1m wide and 1m deep. Several sherds of Bronze Age pottery were recovered from the fill of the enclosure ditch. The entrance to the enclosure was a causeway, which extended under the baulk at the north-east side. Within the enclosure a section of a 0.2m-deep inner ditch was noted along the north-eastern arc, but not continuing around the southern section. Evidence for two possible structures was noted within this enclosure, in the form of two discrete areas of fine cobbling, along with post-holes and, in one instance, a hearth.

Enclosure 3 was located along the eastern edge of the road corridor. Again, approximately half of the enclosure lay within the road-take. The full enclosure would have measured c. 22m in diameter. The enclosing element was almost identical to that of Enclosure 1 – i.e. a slot-trench lined with flat stones on edge – but in this instance up to 0.55m deep. Here again it is felt that the trench held upright planks. A number of small post- and stake-holes were excavated within the enclosure but these did not form any coherent pattern.

Enclosure 4 was located approximately 90m north of Enclosure 2. It comprised a ditch extending c. 7m north-eastwards from the baulk, then turning sharply northwards and continuing for a further c. 15m before disappearing under the baulk again. The ditch measured, on average, 1.7m wide and 0.6m deep. Among the various fills of the ditch was one at its base which was a reddish silty clay which appeared to have been oxidised, though the burning did not take place within the ditch.

A cremation burial placed in a simple pit measuring 0.36m in diameter and 0.25m deep was located within the enclosure.

The structures
Structure A was located at the southern end of the site. It comprised an arc of stake-holes measuring c. 3m long, which was cut by a shallow slot-trench of similar dimensions. These features seem to represent a windbreak erected to shelter activity immediately to the north-east, where two distinct groups of stake-holes may represent a cooking spit. No hearth was found, but a pit in the area was filled with heat-shattered stone.

Structure B was one of a group of three circular houses located close together, all of which produced Bronze Age pottery. It measured 6.75m by 7.3m and consisted of a shallow slot-trench with a circle of internal post-holes, which presumably held roof-supporting posts. The entrance was represented by two substantial post-holes and faced east. The remaining two houses, Structures C and D, were very similar in size and layout to Structure B, with the exception that the entrance to Structure D faced south-eastwards and had a ‘porch’ structure extending from it southwards.

The corn-drying kiln
The kiln was a typical keyhole-shaped example consisting of a hearth and semicircular bowl connected by a long flue. The hearth measured 0.8m by 0.55m and was lined on two sides by sandstone slabs set on edge. A post-medieval field boundary ditch had truncated its southern side. The flue was 1.7m long and 0.45m wide and ended in a semicircular bowl which measured 1.1m by 1.3m and 0.25m deep. Some of the original stone lining of the flue survived.

Radiocarbon dates for all the main features are pending.

Full funding for this work was provided by the National Development Plan 2002–2006, and awarded through the National Roads Authority.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth