2012:112 - Garranes, Cork

A second season of excavation was conducted at Lisnamanroe, Garranes, Co. Cork. The site is located 145m west of the well-known trivallate ringfort of Lisnacaheragh, Garranes. It comprises a circular, earthwork enclosure, defined by a low-relief slope that extends across a levelled bank and ditch. The latter has been imaged by magnetic geophysical survey, which indicates an opening on the eastern side of the enclosure. This original entrance was excavated in May 2012, revealing a ditch causeway and corresponding break in the internal bank. Excavation on the inside of the bank revealed a line of stake-holes from the construction of a light fence that ended with a single wooden gate. The old ground surface on both sides of the entrance was destroyed by lazy-bed cultivation of early modern date. This left only a few truncated features, however evidence of early occupation was discovered in both ditch terminals. This consisted of burnt deposits containing food residues (animal bone, carbonized cereal grains and hazel-nut shells) and artefacts including a sherd of probable E-ware, splinters of early glass and a tiny decorated ring, probably of silver. Also of interest is the discovery of a deliberate deposit of burnt cattle bone in one of the ditch terminals.

Department of Archaeology, University College Cork