2008:193 - CLOGHEEN/KILMACOOM/CAHERDUGGAN NORTH, Cork

An assessment was carried out on a proposed 2km road alignment of the existing road R581 between Doneraile and New Twopothouse, Co. Cork, on behalf of Cork County Council in association with Arup Consulting Engineers. The proposed development area is a 2km by 20m stretch of road that spans the townlands of Clogheen, Kilmacoom and Caherduggan North about 3km south-west of Doneraile.

Testing was undertaken over six days, 2–19 February 2008. In total 158 trenches were excavated across the eight fields which comprise the proposed route realignment. Four areas of archaeological potential were uncovered during the test investigation. Three of these form a large spread of possible medieval archaeological features which extended over three fields within the area of proposed development. The fourth area of potential comprises possible shallow prehistoric remains at the east of the route realignment.

Area 1 (in Field 3)
Test-trenching within Field 3 uncovered an extensive network of landscape features of possible archaeological significance across the full extent of the CPO in the area. The most substantial of these comprised two substantial linear features which were exposed within the centreline trench. The recovery of animal bone and iron slag along with the absence of later material from this field suggested a medieval date for these remains. Further features within the field including a cobbled surface, extensive linear features, burnt pits and deposits confirmed this as an archaeologically significant landscape.

Field 3 is the correct location of a ringfort/cashel CO025–01201 and the purported location of Caherduggan Castle, CO025–01202. The settings for both these sites are outside the CPO and it is likely that the archaeological material uncovered within Field 3 represents peripheral activity associated with occupation of the ringfort and castle. Such activity may have including iron working, corn-drying and related agricultural events. It is also possible that an access-way to the ringfort site/centre of occupation traversed the current route corridor, possibly at the location of the large linear feature. Field 3 is known locally as the ‘Chapel Field’ and local tradition recounts this as the location of a village and possibly ecclesiastical settlement during the medieval period.

Area 2 (in Field 4)
The features exposed within Field 4 possibly represented a continuation of those identified within Field 3 and again extend across the full area of the route corridor. The features comprised two possible corn-drying kilns and a number of subsoil-cut negative features. The most substantial of these comprised two large linear features which traversed the centreline trench at the east and west. A sherd of distinctly medieval pottery, possibly ‘Glanworth ware’, was recovered from the upper fill of eastern linear feature. The kilns are directly indicative of medieval industrial activity at the site. Local tradition recounts Field 4 as the original location of Caherduggan Castle, which was situated at the site of the current disused quarry at the west of the field, c. 15m north of the CPO.

Area 3 (in Field 5)
Test-trenching within Field 5 identified one localised area of archaeological potential at the west of the field. This comprised a paved surface and possible associated ditches. Although the features in Field 5 differed in composition to those exposed in Fields 3 and 4, their proximity to the extensive medieval remains immediately to the west implies a possible archaeological connection between these areas.

Area 4 (in Field 8)
Test-trenching within Field 8 identified a localised area of archaeological potential at the east of the field. This comprised a subcircular scorched earth and charcoal deposit which may have been surrounded by a narrow enclosing ditch. Although no artefacts were retrieved from these features, their ephemeral nature and homogenised fills may suggest a possible prehistoric date for this material. It is possible that these features relate to CO025–04801–2, unclassified enclosures situated to the north of the CPO within Field 8.