County: Cork Site name: LISNAGAR DEMESNE (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO044-102---- Licence number: 03E1510
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 579193m, N 591100m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.071459, -8.303494
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 charcoal-filled pits, post-holes and areas of burning were exposed in Lisnagar Demesne. The site was subsequently designated Lisnagar Demesne 1 and was excavated in September 2003.
An area measuring 5160m2 was stripped of topsoil and seven areas of activity were identified spread out over a large field. Five of the areas contained isolated features of limited significance. They included two post-holes, a possible field boundary, a clay spread, a stone-filled pit, a boundary wall and an isolated pit. A concentration of features was identified near the centre of the site. In this area thirteen pits, oval and circular in shape, were evident. The pits varied in diameter from 0.25 to 0.7m and from 0.1 to 0.27m in depth. They were filled with stone, occasional burnt-bone fragments and occasional fragments of charcoal. One of the pits contained a large quantity of slag and was located close to a bowl furnace. Given its location, it is possible that this was a bloom smithing hearth. The bowl furnace was roughly circular, with a diameter of 0.46m and a depth of 0.12m. Large quantities of charcoal were recovered from the fill and the base of the bowl was packed with metallurgical waste.
North of this area a small limekiln and a series of ditches were exposed. The kiln consisted of a central bowl with east and west stone-lined flues. The base of the structure was sealed with a layer of lime and the central bowl was filled with oxidised clay. Pottery and glass of post-medieval date were recovered from the fill of the bowl, suggesting that the kiln was probably decommissioned in the 18th century. The eastern flue of the structure was truncated by a later field boundary. On present evidence it would appear that there are different phases and periods of activity at this site and that they are totally unrelated. However, post-excavation analysis will clarify the nature and date of activity at this site.
This work was funded in full by the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and was awarded by the National Roads Authority.
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