2008:190 - Chetwynd, Cork

In the course of monitoring of a natural gas pipeline (Ballynora–Lehenaghmore) in the townland of Chetwynd, Co. Cork, a possible archaeological feature became apparent as an area of dark soil. On preliminary investigation, the dark soil was seen as a trench c. 1m wide and at least 1m deep. The feature appeared to be a souterrain, consequently further excavation of a wider area within the pipeline corridor was undertaken. The discovery of concentric ditches suggested the site was a bivallate ringfort. Initially the areas available for excavation were restricted. Following discussions with BGE, the contractor and the project manager, a phased approach to excavation was devised. This involved excavation of the area in three linear segments, each c. 8–10m wide.
The ringfort was located on high ground (90–100m OD) with extensive views to the north and west. Approximately two-thirds of the northern part of the ringfort was excavated. Two concentric ditches were recorded but no trace of the enclosing banks remained. The outer ditch was c. 54m in diameter; it was cut onto the natural subsoil and was U-shaped in profile, with a broad base. It was on average 3.6m wide and c. 1.5m deep. The inner ditch was c. 36m in diameter and had both a U- and V-shaped profile. It was on average 2.5m wide and c. 1.4m deep.
The entrance could not be definitely identified within the excavated area. As the bank was not present and there was no physical link between the ditches, it was not possible to be sure if the ringfort was bivallate or if the inner bank and ditch became obsolete when replaced by a bank and ditch enclosing a greater circumference. The balance of the evidence suggests a bivallate ringfort as there was no evidence for occupation material overlying the inner ramparts. Finds of 18th-century date within the fill of the outer ditch suggest a demolition date prior to the first edition of the OS map, on which the ringfort is not recorded.
Within the enclosure three earth-cut souterrains, a circular house and various pits were excavated.
Souterrain 1 had a stepped entrance passage leading to a rectangular chamber. The chamber and entrance passage were cut from the surface as straight-sided pits and not as a tunnel. There was evidence for two post-holes at the entrance and a further two within the chamber. There was also evidence for a threshold at the entrance to the chamber. A second possible chamber led off from the south-west corner and the entrance to this chamber was marked by opposing post-holes. This chamber extended south beyond the limit of excavation. All of the post-holes became apparent as voids within the backfill of the chambers indicating that the posts had remained in situ when the souterrain was backfilled.
Souterrain 2/4 was more elaborate and was originally thought to be two separate souterrains. It comprised an entrance passage leading to a small chamber with post-holes in each corner. An earth-cut creep (tunnel) led north from this chamber to a larger rectangular chamber, also with post-holes in each corner. To the west of this chamber was a short north/south passage with a shaft in its southern end. The shaft was stone lined and several quernstone fragments were incorporated into the construction. Some of the fragments are rough-outs or stones abandoned in the course of manufacture. A further creep led north from the shaft to a larger subrectangular chamber from which extended to the north and north-east two creeps (one of these may have connected to the inner ditch). The northern chamber had evidently collapsed and been backfilled in recent years with modern farm debris and rubble. The morphology of the chamber suggests that it was different from the other rectangular chambers in that it was of ‘earth-cut’ or tunnelled construction.
Souterrain 3 was a simple linear gallery comprising a short entrance passage and a small chamber with post-holes in each corner. One post-hole was filled with copper melting slag. A narrow opening with two opposing post-holes led to a creep which opened to the inner ditch
Evidence for habitation within the ringfort consisted of a small circular structure (c. 4m in diameter externally and c. 2.4m internally). The foundation trench was partially filled with stone packing. It had a threshold stone and a central hearth which contained a deposit of burnt bone.
Within the two larger souterrains (1 and 2/4) there was evidence for slumped habitation layers. Two deposits of oxidised clay and charcoal within these layers produced fragments of lignite bracelets and sherds of coarse pottery. It is possible therefore that there were houses over the souterrain which were truncated by modern agricultural activity. Several pits containing burnt bone were excavated; whetstones, iron objects and sherds of coarse pottery and fragments of quernstones were found elsewhere on the site.
Post-excavation and specialist analysis is ongoing.