2005:287 - SCARTBARRY, 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. A fulacht fiadh was excavated at Scartbarry.
The site comprised a burnt mound, an associated trough and stake-holes, a watercourse and its associated fills. The site is located in the southern confines of Scartbarry forestry plantation, to the north of Scartbarry Road overbridge, and modern forestry drains have truncated the features in some areas. An area 25m north–south by 20m was originally identified during site clearance works at Scartbarry wood. The mound measured 9m north–south by 8m, was on average 0.3m deep and was located to the south of a watercourse. It consisted of two layers. A hollow, probably natural in origin, was partially located under the south-western section of the mound. The area had been truncated by forestry activity. The area of the hollow measured c. 6m north–south by 4.4m but it extended beyond the area of the excavation to the west. It was truncated by the two forestry drains. The trough and a possible pit were located within the area of the hollow. The hollow was filled with a redeposited subsoil and a brown sandy clay.
The rectangular trough measured 2.22m by 1.36m by 0.38m deep. The sides were slightly undercut at the south-east and east and were vertical elsewhere. The base was flat and truncated by two stake-holes. Fifteen fills were recorded within the trough. They consisted of redeposited subsoil, burnt-mound material, deposits containing large quantities of burnt stone, peaty fills and sandy or silty clays. The base and sides of the trough were lined with fifteen timber planks. The timbers are generally tangentially split/converted and some have obvious toolmarks, including axe facets. Some of the timbers display evidence of extensive burning, for example Timber X, which was partially converted into charcoal on one side. This was not a plank-lining timber and the fact that it was charred suggests that it was not always positioned in the trough, below the water table, as this would have protected it from damage by fire. The planks were packed into the trough with two packing fills. Three stake-holes were in the base of the trough. Seventeen stake-holes and a possible post-hole were at the eastern corner of the trough. Four stake-holes were at the northern corner of the trough.
The eastern section of a possible pit was recorded 0.6m south-west of the trough. It had been truncated by a forestry drain. No hearth was recorded in the vicinity of the mound or the trough, but it could have been truncated by activity associated with the forestry.
Analysis of the environmental samples retrieved, including the trough timbers, furnished two Iron Age radiocarbon dates of 804–548 cal BC (UB-6778) and 766–419 cal BC (UB-6779), as well as an indication of the associated prehistoric environment, which was open and damp, similar to present-day conditions.
Excavation of the site at Scartbarry has added to our understanding of the prehistoric landscape in the area, as, when combined with results from previous work in the area, it demonstrates that it was frequently used as a location for heating stones and water. Twelve burnt mounds were identified during earlier work on the Rathcormac–Fermoy road scheme, including a unique stone-lined trough and hut site within the townland of Scartbarry (NRA Archaeological Discoveries). There are also three burnt mounds within the townland of Skahanagh North (SMR 53:91) and a cluster of four burnt mounds in Ballinaltig (SMR 44:67, 68). These results suggest occupation on a long-term, although perhaps intermittent, basis from around the Early Bronze Age.
References
NRA Archaeological Discoveries. N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Road Scheme.
NRA Archaeological Discoveries. N8 Watergrasshill bypass.