2018:345 - N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom, Killaclug 3, Cork

Killaclug 3 was located on the proposed N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Road Project (Lot 2). The site lay in a large rough field partly on the Foherish River flood plain but rising steeply to the north to a very high rock outcrop covered in scrub and gorse. The site itself was on the northern bank of the river.

The archaeological deposits were characterised by three burnt stone spreads and a trough that was cut into the edge of a natural palaeochannel. The archaeological features lay on what was essentially an island of higher ground between the palaeochannel to the north and the current channel of the Foherish to the south. The palaeochannel pre-dated the archaeological deposits, but was open whilst the site was in use, presumably with water flowing through it.

A trough was located on the southern edge of the palaeochannel and appeared to have been formed by augmenting the natural channel edge. The trough measured at least 2.3m north to south by 1.5m, whilst the internal base was 2m long and 1.5m wide. The depth of the trough ranged from 0.48m to 0.65m. At the east and south the edges of the trough cut were clearly identified; both were steep and the base was flat. At the west and north the trough blended into the palaeochannel and no clear edges were observed; the limits of the trough were considered to be the extent of the burnt stone basal fill. Presumably the original trough had northern and western edges of timber or stone, all traces of which have been lost. Constant flooding precluded further details being discovered below the water table.

Adjacent to the trough was a slightly mounded deposit of loose black silt with fire-cracked stone. This spread measured 5.1m by 2.4m with a maximum depth of 0.23m. Two other small spreads of burnt stone were also identified nearby and could have derived from the same trough.

Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare