2021:773 - Ballyveerane 2, Cork

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken as part of the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom road project. The site lay either side of stream forming the boundary between two townlands, Ballyveerane and Coolyhane, near Macroom, Co. Cork. During monitoring works a single archaeological site was identified, designated Ballyveerane 2.

The excavation of Ballyveerane 2 revealed two burnt mounds; one Middle Bronze Age (1409–1211 BC) with a well-preserved stone and wood-lined trough, and the other Late Bronze Age (1110–836 BC) with a possible lined trough, evidenced by the presence of corner stakes. Unfortunately, as with the vast majority of burnt mound sites, the lack of diagnostic artefacts, palaeo-environmental material and faunal remains results in the specific function of the trough being impossible to determine.

The environmental evidence showed that the communities made use of their local woodland, both the immediate wet woodland and the wider overall ancient oak woodlands that lay across the region. Wood working analyses back up the radiocarbon dates, indicating that Bronze Age tools were used to shape the various wood elements required for the site.