2007:AD20 - GORTNAHOWN (2), 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 2 is located on the lower slopes of the Kilworth Hills. Excavation of Areas 1 and 2 revealed prehistoric and early medieval activity in the form of a series of pits and hearths. It includes 35 pits, eighteen stake-holes and eight hearths.

Areas 1 and 2
The earliest phase of occupation at the site is represented by a group of eight closely set pits located in the south of the site which produced a total of 32 flints and one basal sherd of pottery which appear to be Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age in date.

Iron Age/early medieval occupation of the site is evidenced by two closely set circular structures c. 5m from the eastern limit of the excavation area. Structure A is the larger of the two structures, having a diameter of 7.2m. The foundation trench appears to have facilitated substantial horizontal supports, into which uprights were inserted. A discontinuous outer shallow trench runs alongside the foundation trench on the south-east and north-west which may represent the remains of a gully where water ran off from the roof of the building. An entrance measuring 0.7m in width was located on the eastern side of the building. Inside the structure a central hearth was surrounded by a cluster of stake-holes. A total of thirteen pits and four possible post-holes were also excavated.

Structure B, located 1.9m to the north-west of Structure A, had a diameter of 4m. The remains of this structure were represented by five post-holes set within a foundation trench. The entrance was located at the north side of the building and it was 2.8m in width. Only one feature, a large pit, was identified inside the structure and this appears to pre-date the construction of the building.

An iron object and slag were recovered from the foundation trenches of both buildings and this suggests that occupation of the structures was contemporaneous, and that it was associated with an ironworking area to the north.

A number of features were excavated immediately north of the structures. These included three hearths and eight pits. A cluster of stake-holes alongside a slot-trench, a second possible slot-trench and post-holes were also excavated in this area. Although within close proximity to each other they did not form a structural pattern.

A metalworking area was located 15m north of Structures A and B. It comprised four hearths, four pits, two post-holes, one stake-hole and a slot-trench. Most of the slag appears to be iron but a small quality of possible copper slag was also identified. The slot-trench measures 5.4m in length and the fill was composed almost entirely of slag. It may have formed a screen or boundary, but as it is to the south-east of the hearths it would not have provided a shadow over the metalworking area. It is more likely that it relates to undiscovered features to the east, which extend beyond the limit of the excavation.

Two linear drainage features contained large quantities of metalworking debris. The drain was located 0.5m north-east of the metalworking deposits and runs south-east/north-west. It had well-defined sides and a rounded base. It continued beyond the limit of excavation in the south-east and under the spoilheap in the north-west. The second drain is a similar feature but, unlike the former, this drain has an uneven base and sides and a meandering appearance. It runs north–south for 20.8m before petering out. This drain was subsequently cut by two pits. Another pit and three stake-holes were identified at the base of the drain.

A curvilinear ditch, which was recut, enters the site from beyond the south-eastern limit of excavation and runs in a westerly direction around the site before curving back towards the north-east. The recut then bears east, running under the north-eastern limit of excavation. The primary ditch continues in a north-easterly direction as far as the fulacht fiadh but was not visible beyond it. The fills of the recut ditch produced sherds of post-medieval ceramics, an iron object and a loom weight, while no artefacts were recovered from the primary ditch.

A later field boundary ditch was also excavated. On the east of the site, where it truncates Structures A and B, it is shallow and intermittent but becomes deeper downslope. It is not represented on the OS map.

Agricultural terraces were recorded following the natural contours of the slope on the north-west area of the site.

Area 3
Area 3 consisted of a group of seventeen pits, twelve post- and nine stake-holes. Six of the pits produced a total of 33 prehistoric pottery sherds. Some of the features were concealed by a layer of colluvial silt.

Area 4
Area 4 comprised three shallow ditches and a series of furrows. No artefacts were recovered from this area.

Area 5
The remains of two possible post-medieval structures were uncovered in Area 5.

Structure A is represented by a rectangular cut providing a slightly sunken floor delineated by five post-holes. The north-west section of the structure was obliterated during the topsoil-stripping and no evidence for the north-west wall survives. This could be explained by its sitting on a slope. Two closely set gullies lie immediately upslope of the structure.

Structure B is located 20m to the north-west. Here again the floor level is cut into the slope and the basal remains of three post-holes were identified. Twenty-eight stake-holes make up the northern wall. No evidence of a north-west wall survive. A gully located immediately upslope of the structure connects to a large pit/trough to the north.

Finds from this area included clay pipes, sherds of post-medieval pottery and glass bottles.