2016:427 - Templenoe, Cork

Excavation of four areas (A-D) was undertaken after features were identified during test trenches undertaken by Ken Hanley on behalf of Cork County Council prior to upgrade work along a c. 400 m-long section of the N72, immediately north of Templenoe House, c.5km west of Fermoy Town.

Area A revealed traces of a badly damaged wall and a cobbled surface. The structure appears likely to relate to the smaller of two early modern structures depicted on the 1841-2 first edition OS 6” map (Sheet 035), with the cobbled surface likely to represent a surface between the two structures.

Area B revelaed a cluster of nine features that appear to represent the remains of a smithy. The north-east of the cluster contained three associated pits, likely to represent kilns due to the scorched edges and bases, filled with material rich in charcoal and slag. A smaller shallower feature was located to the east, and while also possibly a kiln it revealed much less scorching on the edges or base. The remaining four features were rectangular or sub-rectangular in shape. All four of the features contained slag, charcoal and hammerscale, with two of the larger features having small copper-alloy fragments. It appears likely that this material was dumped into the features after any smithy furniture was removed. The radiocarbon determinations from in-situ burning reveal a date of between 1029-1272 A.D

Area C revealed several pits and irregular features, most of which appear fairly sterile. There was however a large kiln in the middle of the area measuring 4.6m east-west x 2.1m and 1.2m deep. The feature was oval in plan with almost vertical sides and a flat base at the western end, getting narrower and more shallow to the east. The edges of the feature were oxidised, especially at the shallower eastern end. A large charoal deposit was found at the base of the feature, containing large amounts of oat grain, oat chaff and an unusually high proportion of wild taxa, strongly indicating that the crop was dried without being properly threshed, suggesting the kiln may have been used to produce animal fodder (S. Lyons, pers. comm.) A radiocarbon determination of 1194 – 1280 A.D was obtained from a piece of charred oat.

Area D consisted of a remains of the gate lodge depicted on the 1897-1904 25-inch OS mapping. The structure comprised a rectangular building with two rooms, a central front door and a rear door leading onto a small cobbled courtyard. Curving walls splaying south towards the roadway formed the front corners of the house. Later additions to the house, including new floors and a front entrance path, had been made using concrete.