2005:253 - GORTORE, Cork

Monitoring took place of works within previously untested or unresolved locations along the route of the new N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy bypass between June 2004 and March 2005. These works occurred both within and outside the extents of the compulsory purchase order. External works were monitored under licence 04E0948 by Laurence Dunne (Excavations 2004, No. 256), while internal works were appointed individual works numbers by the project archaeologist.

Three phases of activity were recorded on the site. The earliest phase is a Neolithic house and associated features within Area II. An Early Bronze Age pit was located in Area I some 70m south of the house site. The final phase of activity related to post-medieval agricultural practices and included a backfilled ditch within Area II.

The earliest phase of activity at the site was the construction of a rectangular house in the Early Neolithic period (3928–3655 cal BC, UB-6769). The internal dimensions of the house were 6.3m by 5.1m, occupying an area of c. 33m2. This makes the house at Gortore one of the smaller examples of Neolithic rectangular houses that have been excavated. It is also possible that a combination of construction techniques were in use. Foundation trenches with no evidence for uprights or large post-holes suggest plank-built walls with stone and clay packing, while in other areas it was clear that post-holes were dug into the foundations and these may represent either post-built walls or sections of walls. In general, however, survival of the foundation trenches was discontinuous, perhaps because the archaeological features were truncated as a result of modern agriculture.

The east wall of the structure was represented by a foundation trench that measured 2.8m by 0.8m by 0.4m deep. There were two post-holes within the trench; clay and stones were used as packing between the post-holes. Twenty-six sherds of an Early Neolithic carinated bowl were found within the packing material. The north-west foundation trench measured c. 1.4m east–west and survived to a maximum depth of just 0.09m. It was impossible to discern its original width. A slight depression on the western end of the trench may indicate the location of a post. The north-east trench was truncated to a lesser extent. It measured 0.68m by 4.16m by 0.1m. One shallow pit was located immediately north of the northern wall line.

The west wall was defined by a trench and two irregular cuts. It is likely that these features represent the base of a foundation trench similar to those recorded along the other sides. The trench measured 1.65 by 0.45 by 0.65m and contained two post-holes. A flint flake was recovered from the fill of one post-hole. The corner of the foundation trench was connected to the southern wall by a post-hole.

The south wall was the best-preserved section of the house, with the south-east and south-west corners clearly defined. The south-west corner was marked by two post-holes. The south-east part of the wall comprised a trench measuring 0.62 by 1.8 by 0.35m; this turned along the eastern wall and extended for another 0.4m. It contained four stony fills but there was no evidence of posts or planks in this portion of the foundation trench. Two post-holes were located immediately south of the south wall line. The position and size of this post-hole may indicate an off-centre entrance to the house.

Within the house, one post-hole was interpreted as an internal roof support, but there were no definite indications of internal sub-divisions and no hearth. A thin layer of redeposited clay was recorded within the structure. This was a compacted deposit and it probably represented a floor surface. Fragments of charcoal, a hazelnut shell and a flint flake were recovered from this layer.

The presence of several post-holes immediately outside the house walls suggests that the roof extended beyond the walls and was supported by external uprights. A series of closely set post-holes, pits and stake-holes were located to the north of the house and, although these features are likely to relate to activity at the house, they do not appear to have served a specific structural function.

The plant remains assemblage, analysed by Penny Johnston, contained the typical range of Early Neolithic cereals, with emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) being the main type identified. Similar results have been retrieved from several other Neolithic house sites, including all the houses at Corbally, Co. Kildare, and at Tankardstown South, Co. Limerick. The most unusual aspect of the plant remains assemblage was the retrieval of charred apple fragments; the only known Irish parallels were at Tankardstown South. The small assemblage of lithics from Early Neolithic contexts was examined by Farina Sternke and it contained no diagnostic artefacts, while the ceramic assemblage from the house, analysed by Helen Roche, was classified as Early Neolithic.

An Early Bronze Age pit (dated to 2458–2151 cal BC, UB-6768) and a single possible stake-hole were excavated in Area I. The pit was circular in plan and contained five fills and a stone lining. Seventy-five sherds of pottery, identified as domestic or rusticated Beaker by Helen Roche, were recovered from one charcoal-rich fill within the pit. From the same deposit there were 25 pieces of worked flint (flakes, cores, blade fragments and split pebble fragments) that were interpreted by Strenke as representing just one short episode of flint knapping using small flint pebbles as a raw material. The majority of the worked flints showed signs of burning and it is likely that they were unwanted residues that were discarded in a fire. No evidence of in situ burning was recorded in or around the pit, indicating that the burnt material was discarded from elsewhere into the pit.

Recent infrastructural development has increased the amount and geographic distribution of Neolithic house sites in Ireland, but this site is important on a regional level, given that the only other excavated example of this site type in County Cork was at Barnagore, along the route of the Ballincollig bypass. Both of these Cork examples produced essentially the same radiocarbon results (3940–3620 cal BC at Barnagore and 3928–3655 cal BC from Gortore) and they represent the oldest known houses in the county.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork