County: Cork Site name: CORRIN (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-118---- Licence number: 03E0913
Author: Aidan O’Connell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Charcoal-making site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 581142m, N 595149m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.107916, -8.275298
Testing was carried out in advance of construction along the route of the proposed N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass on behalf of Cork County Council in 2002. During this phase of centre-line testing a series of features of archaeological potential were identified at Corrin. These were three pits, two post-holes, three charcoal spreads and a deposit of oxidised clay. The site was subsequently designated Corrin 2 and was excavated over a period of five days in September 2003.
Three trenches, covering an area of 3900m2, were stripped of sod and topsoil to expose any underlying features. These were fully excavated in advance of road construction. Area 1 was located at the south and contained one pit and two charcoal spreads. The pit was oval and had dimensions of 1.95m by 1.15m by 0.24m deep. It was filled with a grey/black charcoal-enriched silty clay. The charcoal spreads had similar dimensions (average 0.9m by 0.8m by 25mm deep) and overlay deposits of oxidised clay. They represent the remains of informal hearths. A similar hearth was located in Area 2. Area 3 contained the remains of two post-holes. The post-holes had dimensions of 0.3m by 0.25m by 0.14m deep and 0.4m by 0.5m by 0.1m deep. Two further pits recorded in this area were non-archaeological, the result of modern agricultural activity.
The work was funded in full by the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and awarded by the National Roads Authority.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
