2026:233 - Kilboultragh, Cork

The author was commissioned to complete a programme of archaeological testing of a proposed anaerobic digestion facility to produce renewable biomethane, CO2, and a bio-based fertiliser from organic material along with an access road at Kilboultragh, Macroom, County Cork. The site currently comprises a number of stubble fields.

Several monuments are recorded in the vicinity. A fulacht fiadh (CO059-174–) is to the east of the application area. To the south is a burial ground (CO059-154–) and Ecclesiastical enclosure (CO059-186—-), and to the southwest is a stone circle (CO059-151–).

The original phase of testing was carried out pre-planning on 18 and 19 November 2025 at the request of the client. A geophysical survey was completed by J. M. Leigh Surveys (Licence No. 25R0333) in early September 2025.

Following consultation by the client with the planning authority, the client made the decision to relocate the site approximately 50m to the west. This summary relates to testing of the amended site location.

A programme of archaeological testing of the proposed development was carried out in dry and bright conditions on 27 July 2026.  A backhoe excavator with a bucket 1.9m in width removed topsoil and sod and the subsurface ground was excavated by a toothless ditching bucket to undisturbed ground. The excavated ground was assessed for the presence of archaeological features. A total of 2 test trenches were excavated.  All machine excavations were continuously supervised. The stratigraphy encountered was consistent throughout and comprised topsoil and sod ranging in depth from 200mm to 400mm in depth. This overlay a loose sandy mid-brown to reddish natural subsoil with occasional inclusions of large boulders and patches of a loose gravel material. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.