2025:496 - Carrigogna, Cork
County: Cork
Site name: Carrigogna
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 25E0762
Author: Dermot G. Moore and Ivan Pawle
Author/Organisation Address: Rubicon Archaeology Limited, The Glen Distillery Business Park, Old Whitechurch Road, Kilnap, Cork T23 HY01
Site type: Possible pits, structure, curvilinear feature
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 587070m, N 576500m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.940453, -8.188054
A total of 35 archaeological test trenches were excavated at the site of the proposed solar plant at Carrigogna, within three adjoining fields. Four archaeological test trenches yielded results of archaeological significance:
In Trench 4, topsoil ranged in depth from 0.3–0.34m and comprised a dark brown, sandy clay. The subsoil comprised a mid-brown sand 0.2–0.21m in depth. The natural comprised a mid-orangey-brown sandy clay. A geophysical anomaly (PA:1) at the centre of this trench proved to be a possible pit/structure comprising slag, charcoal and stone (C.006).
In Trench 5 topsoil ranged in depth from 0.2–0.22m and comprised a dark brown, sandy clay. The subsoil comprised a mid-brown sand 0.14–0.17m in depth. The natural comprised a mid-orangey-brown sandy clay. A geophysical anomaly at the centre of this trench proved to be a possible pit containing slag (C.006).
In Trench 13 topsoil ranged in depth from 0.22–0.25m and comprised a dark brown, sandy clay. The subsoil comprised a mid-brown sand 0.16–0.2m in depth. The natural comprised a mid-orangey-brown sandy clay. Geophysical anomalies in this trench proved to be geological variations. A large pit (C.007) was identified at the north-eastern end of the trench.
In Trench 22 topsoil ranged in depth from 0.18–0.2m and comprised a dark brown, sandy clay. The subsoil comprised a mid-brown sand 0.11–0.15m in depth. The natural comprised a mid-orangey-brown sandy clay. A geophysical anomaly at the southern end of the trench was a patch of decayed stone. A small pit (C.004) and a curvilinear feature (C.005) were identified in this trench.
In Trench 13 (Field 1) an area of charcoal and burnt stone was uncovered at the eastern end of the trench. This aligned with an archaeological hotspot noted on the geophysical survey. In Trenches 4 and 5 (Field 2), the anomalies designated Anomaly 1 (PA:1) and Anomaly 2 (C:1), which were suggested as a possible lime-kiln, appear to be some form of iron furnace structure and associated deposits. The third and final area of potential archaeological deposits was uncovered in Trench 22 (Field 2). This comprised a subcircular feature comprising an area of charcoal-rich and burnt soil.