2018:406 - BALLYMAKEERY (3), Cork
County: Cork
Site name: BALLYMAKEERY (3)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: E004916
Author: John O’Connor, Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd.
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 2, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork P25 TV25
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 522138m, N 576629m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.936317, -9.132330
Excavation by Rubicon Heritage Ltd at Ballymakeery 3 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 revealed a pit filled with charcoal rich soil and heat-shattered stone. The pit measured 2 m in length, 1.3 m in width, and 0.31 m in depth and was filled by a single fill.
Specialist analysis
Alder dominated the charcoal assemblage making up 69% with willow accounting for 20% and oak 11%. The majority of the charcoal fragments identified contained between 2 and 9 annual growth rings and were classified as being from larger branchwood/heartwood since the growth rings displayed a moderate to weak curvature profile.
Dating
One radiocarbon date was obtained from alder charcoal for the pit excavated at Ballymakeery 3. This returned an early medieval date range of 1020–1155 cal AD (2σ) (SUERC-86092).