2017:577 - Toonlane 1, Cork

Excavation by Rubicon Heritage Ltd at Toonlane 1 was undertaken as part of the N22 Baile Bhuirne–Macroom Road Scheme (Lot 1) Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract. The excavation was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council and funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The Excavation recorded the remains of a burnt mound (5.05 m by 4.6 m by 0.25 m deep) with later field drain. The mound material extended outside the scheme boundary to the northeast. No cut features, such as a trough, were associated with the mound. As the mound continues to the northeast it is possible that cut features may remain in situ outside the excavated area beyond the road-take.

Specialist analysis

The environmental remains recorded from the mound contained exclusively charcoal, which is typical for these site types in Ireland. Oak dominated the assemblage followed by lesser occurrences of willow, holly and hazel. While all four taxa are commonly identified from such sites in Ireland, charcoal research, particularly from Early Bronze Age burnt mound sites, are revealing that oak is a significant component in their fuel selection during this time, both locally from Cork sites and more broadly. Holly is also proving to be an indicator of earlier dated burnt mound sites. The majority of the charcoal identified contained between 2 and 11 annual growth rings and were classified as being from larger branchwood/heartwood since the growth rings displayed a moderate to weak curvature profile.

Dating

A total of two radiocarbon dates were obtained from willow and holly charcoal from the burnt mound excavated at Toonlane 1. These indicated that the burnt mound activity recorded at the site was undertaken during the Early Bronze Age (2025–1914 BC).

Unit 2, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork P25 TV25