County: Cork Site name: Gortnahown 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002477
Author: Julianna O’Donoghue, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Site type: Neolithic activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 581102m, N 609785m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.239480, -8.276692
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.
Excavations at Gortnahown 3 revealed prehistoric activity with a possible Neolithic date. Fifty-one features were identified; these included 36 stake-holes, seven pits, three post-holes and two hearths. There was also a possible stone surface and a tree bole.
A total of 31 finds were recorded from the excavation. The tree bole hollow produced 27 of the pottery sherds. Three pits to the north of the tree bole produced the remaining finds. The first pit contained one pottery sherd and the second contained a decorated pottery sherd and a piece of flint. These pits were located just west and east, respectively, of a hearth. The third larger pit, in the south-eastern extent of the site, produced a flint flake.
Eighteen of the stake-holes that were excavated were located close to another hearth in the north-eastern extent of the site. This would suggest that a possible windbreak or spit structure was constructed contemporaneously with the hearth; this suggestion is strengthened by the fact that to the south-west of this feature there are seven stake-holes also surrounding the first hearth. A short row of stake-holes running through the middle of the site could have supported a small structure such as a windbreak.
