2012:109 - Fota Wildlife Park, Foaty, Cork

Pre-development testing of a proposed extension to Fota Wildlife Park, Foaty townland, Co. Cork was carried out in late August/early September 2012. Thirty-one test trenches (1-31) were excavated in areas including proposed buildings, lake and swamp (i.e. the areas which will undergo most ground disturbance during construction). A number of potential archaeological features were uncovered, and were largely concentrated in the north-eastern corner of the proposed development area. A large possible cut feature (F2) and a small pit (F1) were uncovered in Trenches 6 and 7, respectively. Minor manual investigation of F1 was undertaken however no datable material was recovered. Further to the east in Trenches 10 and 11 two burnt mounds (F4 and F5) and a possible pit (F3) were revealed after the removal of topsoil. The possible pit F3 measured 0.94m east-west by 1.4m. It was not fully exposed and extended under the eastern baulk of Trench 10. The burnt spread F4 was exposed after the removal of 0.3m of topsoil in Trenches 10 and 11. It measured 15.2m east-west by 8.9m and comprised a low mound of black, charcoal-enriched burnt material with frequent inclusions of heat-shattered stones. An additional burnt mound (F5) was exposed at the eastern side of Trench 11 c. 7.9m to the east of F4. This was not fully exposed and appeared to extend further to the east. F5 measured 9.4m east-west (not fully exposed), by 2.3m (not fully exposed) and was encountered at 0.3m below present ground level. F5 was also cut by a stone-filled land drain.

Approximately 18m to the north-east, further potential archaeological features were uncovered in Trenches 12, 13 and 14. A portion of a ditch-like feature (F6 and F11) was exposed at the north-east and south-west end of Trench 12. A corresponding ditch feature (F14) was also exposed in Trench 14. They measured between 3.2-3.7m in width and extended under the baulks of the test trenches. A number of smaller linear and pit-like features were also uncovered in the vicinity of the ditches in Trenches 12-14 but did not produce any dateable finds. A sherd of pottery was recovered from the surface of a charcoal-enriched spread in Trench 12. The sherd has been identified as being from a late Roman amphora dating to the 4-7^th century (Doyle, pers. comm.)

Given the presence of the aforementioned features, further testing was carried out in the north-east corner of the site in November 2012. An additional seven trenches were excavated (32-38) on the site. Trench 36 was excavated immediately north-west of Trench 12 in which it was expected to find the continuation of the ditch features (F6 and F11). A large curving ditch (F20) was exposed in Trench 36 after the removal of topsoil and represents a continuation of the short sections of ditch uncovered in Trench 12. The full width of the ditch was not exposed but extended across the trench, implying a width in excess of 2.1m for this feature. It was exposed for a length of c. 13m and consisted of a mid-brown fill with inclusions of charcoal flecks and small stones. Manual investigation of the ditch was not undertaken and no dateable finds were recovered. F20, F6, F11 and F14 have been interpreted as the remains of an oval enclosure possibly dating to the 4^th-7^th century.

Tobar Archaeological Services, Saleen, Midleton, Cork