2007:AD19 - GORTNAHOWN (1), Cork

Phase 2 excavation works were undertaken, on behalf of Cork County Council, along the route of the N8 Fermoy–Mitchelstown bypass. 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 results of which appeared in Excavations 2005.

The site at Gortnahown 1, located on the lower slopes of the Kilworth Hills, was split into two separate areas of excavation, Areas 1 and 2.

At Area 1, 31 cut features were excavated. These included seventeen pits, seven post-holes, six stake-holes and one hearth. In the eastern part of Area 1 there was a series of stake- and post-holes surrounding five pits. This suggests that the pits were either enclosed by a structure or were surrounded by windbreaks or shelters. This was the only part of this area where there was a discernible pattern in the archaeological remains. Remaining archaeology included a possible hearth at the south-western part of the site, located between two pits, a pit in the north-western part of the site associated with three stake-holes and a large pit excavated at the northern extent of the site. There were no artefacts from the site and it is difficult to assign the features to any date based on the preliminary findings from excavations. Further results, from soil and charcoal analysis, will help to assess a date and function for this site.

At Area 2 there were 26 cut features. These included nine pits, four linear pits, seven stake-holes, three post-holes and three furrows.

A fire-related pit was located at the centre of Area 2. It contained several fills and produced slag and burnt bone. North-east of this there were two more pits and two post-holes. Two smaller pits were located to the south of the site and are most probably contemporary with the other pits on the site.

In the eastern side of the site there was a shallow linear pit that contained a quernstone in its basal fill. To the north of this there was another linear feature; this was probably also a shallow pit. To the west of this there was a curvilinear pit and two more linear features. These were both aligned east to west with one linear feature to the south of the other, which had two stake-holes in the base.