2007:265 - GORTORE (1B), Cork

Phase 2 excavation works were undertaken along the route of the N8 Fermoy–Mitchelstown bypass on behalf of Cork County Council. The proposed bypass involves the construction of c. 16km of dual carriageway extending from Gortore, north of Fermoy, to Carrigane, north-east of Mitchelstown. A programme of advance archaeological testing (Phase 1) had been carried out in October 2005 (Excavations 2005, No. 253, A014–003/E2002).

Gortore was located on the southern bank of the Funshion River. Excavation revealed Mesolithic activity near the river, a Neolithic house and associated features upslope, Neolithic pits, Bronze Age pits, post-medieval field systems and other post-medieval features. There were three main areas of excavation (Areas 1–3).

The earliest phase of activity recorded on the site relates to the Early Mesolithic period. The evidence from this period is thus far limited to artefacts recovered from the surface and includes flint blades and a stone axe.

The later Mesolithic is represented by a scatter of lithics recovered from the surface including blades, flakes and a Moynagh point. One large pit in Area 2 also produced a number of Late Mesolithic artefacts, including a Kerry point. All of the Mesolithic material occurs in Areas 2 and 3 within c. 25m of the riverbank.

Neolithic activity is well represented on site and the partial remains of a structure were identified in Area 1. The structural remains consist of three slot-trenches, nine post-holes and four stake-holes. Though the area is heavily truncated, there are definite similarities between this and the previously excavated structure in Gortore townland; an Early Neolithic date was returned from charcoal found at this site (UB-6769). The surviving slot-trench appears to have supported a split plank wall. A flint scraper was recovered from the fill. As only the northern part of the building survives, it is impossible to discern its dimensions. The structure contains an internal slot-trench and three small pits.

To the south and south-west of the structure twelve small shallow pits, two hearths and three closely set large pits were excavated, some of which produced Neolithic pottery sherds and flint scrapers. It is likely that these features relate to activities associated with the above-mentioned habitation.

Forty-six features were identified in Area 2. These include a possible slot-trench, which may represent a temporary lean-to structure, seven unrelated post- and stake-holes, eight large subrectangular pits, twenty smaller pits and five hearths.

Similar archaeological features were excavated in Area 3. Sixty-nine pits, eighteen post-holes, ten stake-holes and eight hearths were cut into the clay subsoil. Stratigraphy in the north-west of Area 3 was complicated by the occurrence of a sand subsoil into which 55 pits, 21 post-holes, ten stake-holes and three hearths were excavated. Here the features were disturbed by animal activity as well as underlying swallow holes.

Areas 2 and 3 produced a large quantity of artefacts characteristic of the Neolithic period. These included leaf-shaped arrowheads, polished stone axes and hollow scrapers. In addition, five crescent-shaped pits sharing a distinctive cemented clay fill were excavated in Areas 2 and 3 close to the field boundary.

Early Bronze Age material recovered from the site includes a rough-out for a barbed and tanged arrowhead and Beaker pottery. Both were surface finds in Area 3.

Three field boundaries were identified and sectioned. The ditches are U-shaped in profile, aligned south-south-west/north-north-east, and one displays an entrance feature. All three ditches truncate prehistoric features.