2014:426 - CULLENAGH, Cork

In February 2013 the National Monuments Service (NMS) received a report from a private archaeologist, Tony Millar, concerning damage to a prehistoric stone row at Cullenagh, Co. Cork (CO107-025). An inspection of the site was subsequently carried out in March 2013 by Dr Connie Kelleher (NMS). This confirmed that the eastern standing stone in this three-stone alignment had fallen, either naturally or else pushed over by cattle. The NMS requested that the Department of Archaeology, UCC, undertake archaeological excavation of the exposed socket and packing stones, with a view to re-erecting the stone. This work was undertaken by the author over one week in April 2014, as part of a training project for students of the MA in Archaeological Excavation course in UCC. Excavation commenced with machine removal of the fallen stone and the opening of a 3m square trench around the exposed socket. This examined the overall shape and extent of the socket, as well as an arrangement of eight stones around three sides of this shallow pit. No finds or burials were uncovered, nor any other archaeological features. On completion of excavation the original stone was re-erected in the original socket, and the base secured using original packing stones.