2025:195 - Ballinrea 7, Cork

Excavation at Ballinrea 7 as part of the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project, Co.
Cork, revealed two clusters of multi-phased prehistoric pits, a deposit of prehistoric material and a field boundary ditch. Naturally occurring features were also recorded.
Stage (iv) post-excavation analysis is still pending. Below is a preliminary bulletin.

The intercutting nature of the pits indicates at least two distinct phases of occupation of the site during the prehistoric period and while further analysis is still required to refine the date range, the continued use of this space over a long period of time is suggestive of its importance amongst prehistoric people.
The contents of the pits and the deposit at Ballinrea 7 (charred nutshell, charcoal, broken pottery and lithics) is consistent with domestic refuse and the concentrations of material within the pits suggests deliberate deposition of ‘dumps’ of material.
A total of 62 artefacts/potential artefacts including prehistoric and post-medieval pottery, lithics and debitage and a perforated stone were recovered during excavations and from subsequent sample processing. Archaeological materials in the form of charred plant remains (nutshell and charcoal, mostly oak) were also recovered.

Area A(i) – 571435, 566373; Area A(ii) – 571486, 566364; Area B – 571337,
566476 (cutting centroid).