2007:AD15 - CAHERDRINNY (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 is located on relatively flat ground which slopes downwards to the north and east, with Caherdrinny Castle and hillfort visible to the west and Flagstaff Hill visible to the east.

The site at Caherdrinny 3 was split into three areas of excavation (Areas 1–3). Excavation at Area 1 revealed an Early Neolithic house, six other clusters of structural features which may represent buildings, features associated with Early Neolithic carinated bowl pottery, a series of large post-holes and pits, a clay-lined trough and associated pits, a kiln, fire-spots and hearths, a curvilinear ditch and scattered anomalous archaeological features. Archaeological features in Area 2 included pits and linear ditches with burnt-mound-like material, a possible drying kiln, two groups of post-holes, a fragment of a curvilinear ditch, stone-extraction pits and scattered isolated hearths, post-holes, stake-holes and pits. Excavation at Area 3 revealed a group of pits (some containing cremated bone), ditches, a possible structure associated with several flint artefacts, a possible kiln, a line of boundary features and isolated archaeological features.

Area 1
The earliest finds from the site may have dated to the Mesolithic; a possible broken Moynagh point from the Later Mesolithic/Early Neolithic was found in topsoil whilst hand cleaning an area. An Early Neolithic house (Structure 1) was excavated at Area 1. It was subrectangular, aligned north-east/south-west and measured c. 9.2m in length by 7.1m. The house comprised a foundation trench and a possible entrance in the north-east wall. There were a number of post-holes within the trench and around it. Internal features included two large post-holes and a hearth/oven. Finds from Structure 1 included pottery, crystal fragments, burnt bone and nutshells.

Early Neolithic pottery was also found in association with two large pits. Stone tools were also found in the fills of these pits and their use probably also dates to the Neolithic. One of the pits was found just 5m from the Early Neolithic house and was probably related to it.

Another structure (Structure 2) may be represented by a curvilinear trench which survives as a partial arc. It was 4.01m long, 0.45m wide and 0.17m deep and was associated with several stake-holes, a large post-hole and two hearths. There were flint finds from this group of features.

A third possible building (Structure 3) was represented by an irregular slot-trench, a hearth, two pits and a number of associated features. Some prehistoric pottery was found associated with these features. Most of the features near this structure were eroded and possibly truncated. They are generally irregular and the exact nature of this possible building is unclear.

A curvilinear trench was revealed during excavation. It formed a partial arc that measured 9.4m long, 0.49m wide and 0.25m deep. It was steep-sided and the base was stone-lined. It is possible that it represents a portion of a circular building (Structure 4).

A group of eighteen post- and stake-holes were concentrated in a tight cluster. Although no pattern was discernible, these features possibly represent the partial remains of a structure (Structure 5).

Three large post-holes may have been part of a large structure or enclosure (Structure 6). There were large stones which acted as post-pads at the base of some of these post-holes and another post-hole bottomed out at natural bedrock, which possibly acted in a similar manner to the post-pad, supporting extremely large posts.

A possible seventh building (Structure 7) was represented by nineteen post-holes and a spread.

A group of seven pits surrounded a possible cremation pit. The possible cremation pit was subcircular in plan. It contained flecks of burnt bone and finds such as flint and pottery.
A trough was lined with clay. It resembled the trough of a burnt mound/fulacht fiadh and the fill of the trough contained burnt-mound-like material, although no mound was present at the site. It was associated with a pit and the hearth, which was located directly beside the trough.

A kiln was aligned north to south. This feature has a very definite flue or possible bellows hole. This indicates the generation of very high, possibly fluctuating, temperatures. Pottery was found in the fills, probably reused in this feature, including Beaker and possible domestic cordoned urns.

A curvilinear ditch is aligned north to south and it represents a dried-up stream or water system. In addition there were scattered archaeological features found throughout this area of excavation. These included fire-spots and hearths, pits and post-holes.

The medieval period is represented by the remains of the foundations of a building (Structure 7) and a corn-drying kiln. The foundations were cut into the side of the slope and a small drain survived at the base of the building. A coin (undated as yet) was found within the structural remains and this should help date the occupation of this building. The remains of a corn-drying kiln were situated directly above the remains of the wall and it is possible that stones from the wall were used to build the kiln.

Area 2
Several pits and linear features excavated in Area 2 contained burnt-mound-like material. These were divided into two clusters. The first cluster comprised five oval north–south-aligned pits, four narrow and quite shallow linear ditches and a number of stake-holes. In some of the pits burnt-bone pieces had been found. The second cluster was located at a distance of 15–20m to the east and it contained four north–south-orientated features (pits and linear features). No mound, trough or associated hearths were revealed but it is possible that these features represent the remains of a truncated burnt mound and associated features.

A possible corn-drying kiln was aligned east to west; it measured 2.5m long by 1.2m wide and 0.5m deep. There was evidence that these were stone-lined, and material in the fill suggested that they were subjected to high temperatures. Evidence of stone lining and high temperature had been recorded in its fills. The pit contained charcoal; this was possibly dumped into the pit from the kiln, located nearby. It was enclosed by several stake-holes.

A small group of five post-holes was revealed in the south-west of Area 2. They measured 0.2–0.4m in diameter and 0.12–0.27m in depth and mostly were filled by sandy silt.

Another small group of features (post-holes and pits truncated by post-holes or other pits) was excavated in the western part of Area 2. All of them contained a great amount of charcoal and two pits also contained pottery sherds and burnt-bone flecks. Most of these features were truncated by later activity.

A curvilinear ditch survived as only a small fragment, which was 3.2m long, 0.8m wide and 0.3m deep. It was flat-based and U-shaped in profile. Two plough furrows truncated its end and the whole area to the north and east was disturbed by a tree bole.

Two large and irregular pits excavated in the northern part of Area 2 were interpreted as stone-extraction pits. Large amounts of possible Bronze Age pottery were retrieved from the upper, charcoal-rich, fill of one of these pits. Two parallel linear ditches and a large post-hole were revealed in association with these pits. They were filled with charcoal and heat-shattered stone.

Several isolated hearths were excavated in Area 2. They were generally oval-shaped patches of heat-reddened subsoil (sometimes oxidised to a depth of up to 0.1m). Charcoal-rich deposits of burnt material survived only in association with a few hearths. One of these contained pottery sherds, burnt bones and hazelnut-shell fragments. One of the hearths was probably related to smelting activity. It was a small and very shallow pit with charcoal and burnt clay fill and contained great amount of slag fragments.

The remaining archaeological features, including post- and stake-holes, pits and a few deposits, were dispersed in Area 2. Pottery sherds and flints had been found in two of the isolated pits.

Area 3
One of a group of pits found in Area 3 contained cremated bone. This was interpreted as a cremation pit. A second possible cremation pit was possibly related to it. In addition, a hearth may also have been related to these features. The pits and a hearth were positioned in a curvilinear line running east to west, with c. 3m gaps between them.

Possible modern ditches were also found in Area 3. The ditch was curvilinear and aligned roughly north to south. This formed an enclosure in conjunction with a second ditch. The entrance into this possible enclosure was formed by a 3m gap between the termini of ditches. The second ditch truncates a furrow. This suggests that these ditches are modern.

Four linear features contained 32 flint artefacts. It is possible that some of these linear features may form part of a structure. Another linear feature contained a charcoal layer and associated features may form part of another possible building.

A possible kiln was aligned south-west to north-east. It was associated with three large post-holes.

The remaining archaeological features, including spreads and deposits, were dispersed throughout Area 3.