County: Cork Site name: KILBRIEN (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO044-085---- Licence number: 03E1088
Author: Eamonn Cotter, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 579858m, N 592943m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.088046, -8.293905
Testing in this area was carried out 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 number of possible features were identified. These were designated as Kilbrien 1 and full excavation was carried out in July 2003.
The principal archaeological feature of the site was a thin scatter of burnt stone indicating a fulacht fiadh, which had been extensively damaged by modern land drainage. Excavation revealed an oval-shaped trough measuring 1.6m by 1.24m by 0.54m deep, with three associated stake-holes, along with a smaller irregular-shaped pit and two post-holes. Several modern field drains cut through the site. Charcoal samples were retained and radiocarbon dates 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
