2025:750 - Spaglen, Mallow, Cork

An archaeological excavation was carried out at four areas at a site in Spaglen, Mallow, County Cork, in advance of development. Archaeological features were first identified from a test trenching programme, which followed on from a geophysical survey. Areas around these features were opened for excavation in January 2025, and the excavation continued until April 2025. Monitoring of groundworks in the rest of the site was carried out under the same licence until June 2026, but no other archaeological material was identified.

Area A measured 15m by 15m (Centrepoint ITM 556474 E, 599760 N) and contained a single pit, two post-holes and four deposits. Two of the deposits consisted of natural colluvial material that overlay archaeological features. Activity in this area was dated to the Bronze Age.

Area B comprised c.1,720m² (Centrepoint ITM 556572 E, 599788 N) and contained three ditches, nine smaller linear features, five post-holes, one pit and six stake-holes. Two of the ditches may have enclosed an area to the north of a stream. Fills of these ditches were dated to the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age and the early medieval periods, while another ditch (not part of the potential enclosure) dated to the late medieval period. A small assemblage of ex-situ prehistoric pottery and lithics was recovered from this area.

Area C measured 25m by 15m (Centrepoint ITM 556718 E, 59993 N) and contained a kiln, three pits, eleven post-holes and five stake-holes. The basal fill of the kiln was dated to the early medieval period.

Area D measured 10m by 10m (Centrepoint ITM 556676 E, 599966 N) and contained four pits, four post- and two stake-holes. One of the pits was dated to the Iron Age.