2014:526 - CASTLEPOOK SOUTH, Cork

Phase 2 excavations were carried out at Castle Pook tower-house from 16 June 2014 to 11 July 2014, under an extension to licence 12E0382. This phase comprised the excavation of 1) an area to the north of the bawn, where it was proposed to locate the septic tank, 2) a quarry pit to the west of the tower-house, where a boiler house is to be located, 3) the route of services from the boiler house to the tower-house and from there to the septic tank, and 4) the top floor of the tower-house. No archaeological features were found in Areas 2 and 3.

In Area 1 a depression in the bedrock was found to have filled with overflow from the adjacent cesspit which was partially excavated in Phase 1 (excavations.ie, 2012:099). Excavation of the fill revealed the north face of a 15m long section of the bawn wall, which was found to survive up to 1.5m below the surface. The fill contained numerous fragments of animal bone.

The top floor of the tower-house comprised a main chamber and a smaller subsidiary chamber, both accessed from the spiral stairs, a small garderobe chamber opening off the main chamber, and a mezzanine chamber below it. Trenches were excavated across the east and west ends of the main chamber revealing the spine of the vault. The subsidiary chamber was fully excavated, revealing the fireplace with its hearthstone still in situ. The mezzanine level was also fully excavated. It comprised two long narrow rooms; the outer room was accessed from the spiral stairs and in turn gave access to the inner room. The door to the inner room was secured from outside, indicating it was used as either a prison or a strongroom.