County: Cork Site name: Teerbeg 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004968
Author: Stuart Elder, Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd
Site type: Prehistoric Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 531897m, N 574119m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.915042, -8.989941
Excavation by Rubicon Heritage Ltd at Teerbeg 2 was undertaken as part of the N22 Baile Bhuirne–Macroom Road Scheme (Lot 3) Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract. The excavation was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council and funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
The findings from the excavation at Teerbeg 2 suggest that it represents the remains of a disturbed burnt spread/mound, with no cut features identified. Land reclamation works, in the form of stone-filled field drains, and the presence of 19th/20th Century ceramics and plastic, attest to the modern interference with the site.
Specialist analysis
Analysis of the charcoal fragments recovered showed that oak dominated the assemblage followed closely by ash and alder, with lower occurrences of willow and pomaceous fruitwoods. The diversity of wood recorded, particularly the presence of ash and pomaceous woods, is interpreted as possibly reflecting intense woodland clearance, where the felled woods were being used to fuel burnt mound activity (Appendix 5).
Dating
One radiocarbon date was obtained from ash charcoal for the ex-situ burnt mound material excavated at Teerbeg 2. These indicated that the burnt mound activity recorded at the site was undertaken during the Middle Bronze Age.
Unit 2, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork
