2007:AD6 - Ballinglanna North 3, 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 testing (Phase 1) had been carried out in October 2005.
The site at Ballinglanna North 3 was located on the 100m contour, on the western reef of the Glencorra Stream. It comprised two Early Neolithic rectangular structures and two further possible structures that may also be Early Neolithic in date, two burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh and post-medieval or modern boundaries and furrows. The archaeological significance of the site is high. It may be linked to other Neolithic house sites at Gortore (No. 265 above, E2410) and Caherdrinny (No. AD15 below, E2422).
A rectangular building (Structure 1) was located at the northern end of the site. It measured 9.6m in length and 6.7m in width. The long axis of the building was aligned roughly east–west. The entrance to Structure 1 was in the southern wall, along the long axis of the house. This structure was represented by a series of foundation trenches, pits and post-holes. Associated finds included Early Neolithic pottery. The structure resembled rectangular houses that date to very early in the Irish Neolithic period.
There were three pits associated with Structure 1. One pit cut the western foundation trench and the remaining two pits were located within the structure. Numerous pits, hearths and post-holes were located to the north, west and east of Structure 1. A total of eight post-holes were found in the north-eastern part of the site. The post-holes in the centre of this area of activity probably formed a small structure.
Seven post-holes were located c. 4m to the east of Structure 1; these form a possible building, Structure 2. The post-holes varied in shape and size and were not evenly spaced. It is likely that this structure was less substantial than a house, possibly a shelter for animals or storage.
A rectangular building (Structure 3) was located in the southern part of the site. It measured c. 13.5m by 6m and was aligned east–west. It comprised a series of foundation trenches, post-holes, stake-holes and pits. The northern portion of the building was truncated by later activity, probably dating to the Bronze Age.
A curvilinear arc of features at the eastern end of the building may represent an annexe, D-shaped in plan, at the end of a rectangular house. Two slot-trenches in the vicinity may represent the partial remains of a fourth building (Structure 4).
A burnt mound (Burnt mound 1) was located in the northern part of the site in a hollow towards the base of a sloping valley. This location resulted in a build-up of colluvial layers both below and above this area of activity. A total of three layers of burnt-mound material ranged between 1.4m and 5.6m in length, 0.6m and 3.5m in width and 0.06m and 0.15m in depth. Irregular in plan, they were found within a limited area that covered c. 42.75m2. Three troughs and three pits were excavated in this part of the site. All three troughs were aligned north–south and ranged between 1.75m and 2.26m in length, 1m and 1.6m in width and 0.31m and 0.55m in depth.
A total of fifteen pits were located in the area between Structure 1 and Burnt Mound 1. The evidence suggests that some of these pits dated to the Neolithic, while others dated to the Bronze Age phase of activity.
A second burnt mound was found at the south of the site (Burnt Mound 2). This comprised the base of a burnt mound and two layers of burnt material above it. The total measurement of the burnt mound was 9.82m in length, 6.5m in width and 0.18m in depth. It was subcircular in plan with a circular flat base. Flint and pottery were recovered from the layers. Two troughs and five pits underlay the mound. A further five pits were located adjacent to the mound.