County: Cork Site name: Milleencoola, Bantry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO118-102 Licence number: 17E0444
Author: Tony Miller
Site type: Fulucht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 500866m, N 549029m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.684910, -9.433711
Both geophysical survey and test excavation were required in advance of the construction of a housing estate by Droumleigh Construction Ltd, at Milleencoola on the outskirts of Bantry. The land was one large field of pasture, north facing, with a stream running through the middle. Geophysical survey (17R0155) indicated possible archaeological remains along the western half of the field.
Ten test trenches were excavated in total with variable depths of topsoil overlying boulder clay. It was concluded that most of the survey results were connected with a farmstead shown on the 1st Ed. OS map in the south-west quadrant of the field. However, a strong response in the north-west corner proved to be an extensive area of burnt stone, under c. 0.2m of topsoil. Its full extent was not uncovered but it spread c.15m south of the northern boundary and c. 21m east of the western boundary.
It was agreed that this monument would be preserved in situ, covered with topsoil and kept within an amenity green area for the estate.
Tooreen
