2014:100 - Creggane, Buttevant, Cork

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Cork Site name: Creggane, Buttevant

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 14E0333

Author: Miriam Carroll

Site type: Prehistoric activity

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 553774m, N 609732m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.237380, -8.676794

Monitoring of topsoil removal associated with the construction of a community college in Creggane townland, Buttevant was undertaken between June and August 2014. The monitoring was carried out in compliance with a condition of the grant of planning permission by Cork County Council (Planning Ref: 12/06634). During the course of topsoil removal a number of archaeological features were uncovered including two possibly Bronze Age structures, pits, a possible hearth and seemingly associated linear trenches/boundaries. An excavation subsequently took place between July and October 2014.

Seven linear features were exposed extending across the site north-south and east-west. While some of the linear features produced later material in the form of a clay pipe stem, bottle glass and post-medieval pottery, a number of other linear trenches (F13, F5 and F46) would appear to be earlier in date. F13, F5 and F46 were extensive in length but were relatively shallow and narrow, with U-V shaped profiles. F46, located at the south-west side of the site, was cut by F20, F18 and F13, rendering it one of the earliest linear trenches on the site. The fill of F46 produced one piece of flint debitage. Similarly, linear feature F13 did not produce any readily dateable finds with only one piece of flint debitage recovered from its fills. Both linear features F5 and F13 respect two structures, possibly Bronze Age in date, which may suggest that these features and the structures are contemporary.

Two possible Bronze Age structures, Structures 1 and 2, were uncovered on the site. Structure 1 (F11/F41) comprised a pennanular, sub-circular structure with two opposing entrances at the east and west. It was located to the east of linear trench F13 and north of linear featureĀ F5. No finds were recovered from the fill of the shallow curvilinear trenches which formed the structure, or the stake-holes which cut the base of the latter.

A number of pits and stakes were identified and excavated to the east of Structure 1. A possible hearth (F23) and associated stake-holes were also identified further to the north of Structure 1. Partial excavation of this area revealed the presence of eighteen stake-holes and post-holes in a seemingly linear arrangement. Some of the stakes and posts appeared to cut layers of oxidised material which may relate to its function as a hearth. One of the post-holes produced a possible flint core. F23 and another area of potential archaeological features to the north-east of Structure 1 were subsequently preserved in situ.

To the east of F23 a dense cluster of shallow stake-holes was revealed after the removal of a brown spread and seemingly associated weathered limestone flags. The brown spread overlay the stake-holes and contained a number of poorly preserved sherds of prehistoric pottery, possibly Bronze Age in date (awaiting specialist analysis).

Structure 2 was oval/sub-rectangular in shape and located just south of F5, east of F13 and south of Structure 1. The curvilinear trenches forming this structure were also cut by several stake-holes, however, no artefacts were recovered from these features. An internal curvilinear trench may represent an internal division within the structure.

At least two additional possible, albeit less defined, structures were identified and excavated towards the north-east end of the development site in the area of a proposed attenuation tank and associated service trenches. In addition to the structures, numerous pits, post- and stake-holes were found throughout the site. One such feature produced a small stone axehead, while others produced flint blades and flakes.

While relatively few artefacts were recovered from the site, despite the significant number of features excavated, they are indicative of a prehistoric date, possibly late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. Of note are several flint artefacts, the aforementioned stone axe head and sherds of possible Bronze Age pottery.

Tobar Archaeological Services, Saleen, Midleton, Cork