2004:0340 - STAGPARK, Cork

Archaeological works were undertaken on behalf of Cork County Council along the route of the N8 Mitchelstown relief road, which involves the construction of 4.5km of the N8 from Cloonlough, south of Mitchelstown, to the junction of the R513 and the N8, north of Mitchelstown. In the course of testing a fulacht fiadh was recorded in Mitchelstown. Licence 04E1119 was initially granted to excavate the site in Stagpark. However, with the introduction of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act in the summer of 2004, the remaining investigations took place under ministerial direction. The excavation of the fulacht fiadh was designated the works number A012/001.

The site measured 35m by 30m and was located within a low-lying field. The underlying clay natural in the field resulted in poor drainage and high surface-water retention. The field was cut by hand-and machine-cut field drains. Two shallow burnt mounds were excavated, located 4.5m apart. The larger of the two was 19.2m by 15.4m. Located underneath the mound were two intercutting pits surrounded by a series of shallow stake-holes. A rectangular trough was present at the northern edge of the mound. This measured 2m by 1.4m by 0.65m deep and was filled with an organic peat layer. The peat had built up after the abandonment of the site, as it also partially covered the north-western corner of the mound. A series of driven stake- and postholes were located in the corners of the trough. No timbers had survived in the cuts. The smaller of the two mounds was located 4.5m to the north-west of the larger and measured 15.4m by 12.5m. Upon removal of the mound a number of pits and postholes were uncovered, but no discernible pattern was evident. An oval trough, 2.5m by 2.1m, was excavated at the eastern edge of the mound. Both troughs were large, which would suggest that the mounds were originally more substantial.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork