2014:457 - KILMONEY (1-2), Cork

Three small sites were excavated in Kilmoney, Carrigaline, Co. Cork as part of advanced archaeological works for the proposed Carrigaline Western Relief Road. Previous testing (13E0006) by Ken Hanley of Cork Road Design Office identified five archaeological sites along the scheme.

Kilmoney 1 was a cluster of three pits excavated in the floodplain of the Owenboy River. Each pit contained charcoal and heat-fractured stone. Radiocarbon dating of a sample of alder charcoal collected from the fill of one of these pits indicates that this activity was undertaken in the Chalcolithic period between 2456-2205 BC (D-AMS 010555; 3844±22 BP). A similar site was found at Carrigaline West 3 on the northern side of the river (13E0371), although this site was dated to the late Bronze Age.

Kilmoney 2 (100m to the south) was a disturbed fulacht fia situated on higher ground overlooking the floodplain, but adjacent to a palaeochannel. Below the disturbed spread (c.30m x 15m), 13 pits of various sizes and shapes were identified. Environmental samples contained hazel, oak, alder, holly, willow, pomoideae and birch charcoal. It appeared that the palaeochannel may have directly filled two of the pits and possibly a cluster of 4 interconnected pits, with a possible overflow channel taking water away from the working area. The overflow channel and 2 of the interconnected pits have been radiocarbon dated to the Early Bronze Age. A third pit in this sequence was dated to the Middle Bronze Age. Of the remaining pits across the site, a further two were dated to the Early Bronze Age. A sample of alder charcoal from the disturbed burnt mound was dated to the Early Iron Age in the period 771-519 BC, indicating at least three phases of fulacht fia activity at this site. A shallow pit containing smithing residues was also identified and radiocarbon dating of oak charcoal collected from this feature suggests small-scale iron working in proximity to the fulacht fia in the Middle Iron Age during the period 372-45 BC.