2008:242 - GORTNAHOWN (4), Cork

The site at Gortnahown 4 was discovered in February 2008 during construction of a cattle crossing-point.

A spread of burnt-mound material was removed from an area measuring c. 20m from north-west to south-east by 10m; it was up to 0.3m deep. No artefacts were uncovered from this spread. The spread was above a layer of redeposited subsoil, C.12, which measured 25m from north-west to south-east by 12m; it was up to 0.4m deep. A piece of modern glass, a piece of plastic and three sherds of modern pottery were recovered from this context. Spread C.12 was above a spread of burnt-mound material, mixed with modern branches and roots which measured 20m from north-west to south-east by 7m and up to 1m deep in parts. The above-mentioned spreads are likely to be the result of modern agricultural processes, e.g. levelling out the ground surface. The spreads of burnt-mound material appear to have originated from a burnt mound located somewhere in the vicinity. Cutting into these same spreads are two modern field drains. The burnt-mound deposits excavated are ex situ.

A possible pit was excavated; this was filled with burnt-mound material. This pit was possibly the result of modern agricultural processes. No datable artefacts were uncovered from the feature.

A curvilinear feature, C.5, was excavated at the western end of the site. It measured 17m from east to west by 1.5m by 0.3m deep. It was filled with burnt-mound material and a light-brown/grey pebbly soft clay sand. Two possible post-holes were located just north of C.5. No datable artefacts were uncovered from these features.