2006:261 - BALLINCOLLIG, Cork

A total of 27 test-trenches were excavated in a number of fields located to the north and east of Ballincollig Castle (CO073–062) as part of a pre-planning assessment of a proposed housing scheme. Testing was preceded by a geophysical survey, by Target Archaeological Geophysics (06R019), of the entire proposed development site. This survey identified a large number of potential archaeological features in an undulating field located immediately to the east of the castle and identified traces of cultivation activity in the remainder of the site.

A curvilinear anomaly skirting the base of the rock outcrop upon which the castle stands may indicate the presence of a defensive fosse. This potential archaeological feature was located outside the proposed development area and was unavailable for test-trenching. A north–south linear anomaly running close to the east boundary of the field was found to be the remains of a double-banked laneway, shown on the second-edition OS map of 1903. The laneway extends to the north and south from a level crossing on the railway line and appears to be contemporary with the railway line, which was constructed in the 1860s.

A north–south linear geophysical anomaly identified between the castle and the laneway (90m east of the castle and 30m west of the laneway) was exposed in a number of the test-trenches. This was found to be an infilled ditch measuring 1.2–2.4m in width. There were no archaeological artefacts recovered from the investigated portions of this ditch and its date remains unknown. There is a slight curve in this feature and this appears to respect a similar curve in the line of the laneway and field boundary to the east. The geophysical survey shows this feature terminating in the low-lying, wet ground in the south end of the field. Two sections were excavated through the ditch fill close to where it terminates and it was found to have a shallow (0.3–0.4m deep) U-shaped cut in this area. There was no trace of the ditch noted during testing beyond its southern terminus shown on the geophysical survey and it was also not present in the test-trenches, or in the geophysical survey, in the areas to the north-east and south of the castle. The absence of any evidence for this ditch in these areas indicated that it did not form an enclosing feature around the castle. It may be an infilled field boundary or have functioned as a drainage channel that carried ground-water from the slightly higher ground at the north, which was under tillage, down to the low-lying area in the south end of the field.

A trench was opened across an area of increased magnetic response in the low-lying ground immediately to the south of the castle. This low-lying area was poorly drained and traces of naturally occurring manganese and iron pan were evident in the soil profiles and these natural deposits may have resulted in the magnetic readings. However, a single post-hole was uncovered in this trench and this may indicate the presence of the remains of a timber building in this area. A small cluster of geophysical anomalies in the south-east corner of the field appeared to have been caused by natural deposits of oxidised gravels. According to local information, extensive land improvement works were carried out by machine in this field during the second half of the 20th century. Test-trenching in the remainder of the fields in the development site confirmed that the geophysical anomalies in this area were created by cultivation activity and no archaeological features or finds were uncovered in these areas.

It was recommended that further archaeological investigations be carried out in the field to the east of the castle in advance of any development proceeding in this area. The proposed housing development at this site was subsequently put on hold and the planning application was withdrawn.

Deanrock Business Park, Togher, Cork