Eachtra Journal

Issue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report E2428 - Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork Prehistoric activity

EACHTRA Archaeological Projects Archaeological Excavation Report Prehistoric activity at Ballynamona 1 Co. Cork May 2011

Client: Cork County Council

Project: N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown E No: E2428

Excavation Director: John Tierney

Written by: John Tierney and Penny Johnston

Archaeological Excavation Report Prehistoric activity at Ballynamona 1 Co. Cork

Excavation Director John Tierney

Written By John Tierney and Penny Johnston

EACHTRA Archaeological Projects

CORK GALWAY The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected] tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected] © Eachtra Archaological Projects 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork

Set in 12pt Garamond Printed in Ireland Table of Contents Summary��iii Acknowledgements�� iv 1 Scope of the project �� 1 2 Route location �� 1 3 Receiving environment �� 3 4 Archaeological and historical background �� 4 Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)��4 Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)��6 Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 BC)��6 Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)��7 Early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100)��8 High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)��9 Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present)��9 5 Site Location and Topography �� 11 6 Excavation methodology �� 11 7 Excavation results �� 13 Area 1��15 Area 2��17 Charcoal��23 Plant remains��23 Pottery��23 Radiocarbon dates��24 9 Discussion ��24 10 References ��27 Appendix 1 Stratigraphic Index �� 31 Appendix 2 Site matrix �� 41 Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups ��43 Appendix 4 Finds register �� 51 Appendix 5 Plant remains ��53 Appendix 6 Pottery report ��56

i List of Figures Figure 1: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map. �� 2 Figure 2: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the RMP map CO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028. The map is based on the second edition Ordnance Survey maps. �� 5 Figure 3: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ord- nance Survey map CO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028. ��10 Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428. ��12 Figure 5: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428 Area 1. ��14 Figure 6: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428 Area 2. ��16 Figure 7: Illustration of Early Bronze Age Vase Urn, Vessel 2. ��19 Figure 8: Illustration of Late Neolithic Grooved Ware, Vessel 1. ��19 Figure 9: Neolithic sites on and in the environs of the N8 Fermoy Mitchelstown. ��26 Figure 10: Early Bronze Age sites on and in the environs of the N8 Fermoy Mitchelstown. ��28

List of Plates Plate 1: View of the excavation at Ballynamona 1 (Area 1) with the surrounding hills visible in the background, from the north-west (Photo: John Sunderland). ��13 Plate 2: Working shot of excavations at Ballynamona 1 (Photo: John Sunderland). ��15 Plate 3: View of the excavation at Ballynamona 1 (Area 1), from the north (Photo: John Sunder- land). ��17 Plate 4: Post-excavation view of possible cremation pit (C.86), from north. ��18 Plate 5: Post-excavation view of pit (C.72), from south-west. ��20 Plate 6: Post-excavation view of pit (C.76), from north-east. ��21 Plate 7: Post-excavation view of pit (C.71). ��22 Plate 8: Partially excavated view of pit (C.91), showing charcoal-rich fill, from north. ��22 Plate 9: South-east facing section of linear feature (C.77). ��23

List of Tables Table 1: Post-hole dimensions ��17 Table 2: Pit dimensions ��20

ii Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Summary The excavation of the site at Ballynamona was spread over two areas (Area 1 and Area 2). Excavation revealed nine pits, two post-holes and a linear feature in Area 1 and 12 pits and two linear features from Area 2. Some finds of prehistoric pottery indicated Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age activity.

Road project name N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass Site name Ballynamona 1 E no. E2428 Ministerial Order no. A040 Site director John Tierney Townland Ballynamona Parish Brigown Barony Condons and Clangibbon OS Map Sheet No. CO19 National Grid Reference 182613 111460 - 182692 111490

iii ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Acknowledgements The senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation managers were Penny Johnston and Jacinta Kiely. Administration of the project was by Choryna Kiely and Fiona Greene. Illustrations are by Ben Blakeman and Maurizio Toscano. Photographs are by John Sunderland, Hawkeye and Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Specialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Helen Roche, Eoin Grogan and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and was commissioned by Cork County Council on behalf of the National Roads Authority. The project archaeologist was Ken Hanley.

iv Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

1 Scope of the project The archaeological works associated with the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council, National Road Design Office, Rich- mond, Glanmire, Co. Cork. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Cork County Council as part of the Author- ity’s commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct archaeological site investigations within the lands made available, to assess the nature and extent of any potential new sites uncovered and to preserve by record those sites of agreed archaeological significance, as approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in October 2005 under licence 05E1150 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Lo- cal Government (DoEHLG). The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeological potential identified in the EIS and geophysical surveying. Five Cul- tural Heritage Sites were tested under individual excavation licences 05E1122-05E1126. Phase 2 of the project (resolution) involved the resolution of all archaeological sites identified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the construction of the bypass. This phase of the project was carried out from September 2006 to Septem- ber 2007 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeolo- gist. A total of 28 sites were excavated during this phase of works under separate licences issued by DoEHLG. A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of the project to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work arising from archaeological works along the route of the new N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown By- pass. It included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works. The document detailed the location of the route, the receiving environment, the archaeological and historical background, the scope of the project and the circumstances and scope of fieldwork. The document presented a scheme-wide summary of the archaeological findings, a research framework within which the findings were dealt with and a publication plan and dissemination strategy for the end results.

2 Route location The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road is located in the rich pastureland of North Cork (Figure 1). The project involves the construction of c. 16 km of the N8 from Gortore north of Fermoy to Carrigane north-east of Mitchelstown. The N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road passes through the townlands of Gortore, Ballynacarriga, Glenwood, Ballinglanna North, Ballinrush, Caherdrinny, Gortnahown, Ballybeg, Turbeagh, Glena-

1 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Derry Donegal Antrim

Tyrone

Leitrim Fermanagh Armagh Down

Sligo Garryleagh 1 Cavan Louth Carrigane 1 Mayo Roscommon Longford E2433 E2434 Meath

Westmeath Dublin Galway Oﬀaly Kildare

Laois Wicklow Clare Kildrum 1 Carlow E3971 Tipperary Kilkenny Limerick Wexford Kilshanny 3 Kerry N8 Waterford E2432 Cork

Kilshanny 2 E2431

Ballynamona 2 Kilshanny 1 E2429 E2430

BallynamonaBallynamona 1 1 Glenatluckly 1 E2428E2428 E2427

Gortnahown 2 E2426

Gortnahown 1 Gortnahown 3 E2423 E2477

Gortnahown 4 E3832

Caherdrinny 3 E2422

Caherdrinny 2 E2421

Caherdrinny 1 E2420 Ballinrush 1 E2419

Ballinglanna North 5 E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417

Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972

Ballinglanna North 2 E2415

Ballinglanna North 1 E2414 Ballynacarriga 3 E2412 Ballynacarriga 2 E2413

Ballynacarriga 1 Key E2411

Post Medieval Gortore 1B Early Medieval E2410 Gortore 2 Prehistoric Site E3973 Prehistoric Settlement Site Burnt Mound Non-archaeological 0km 2km Townland Boundaries Figure 1: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map.

2 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ tlucky, Ballynamona, Kilshanny, Corracunna, Kildrum, Garryleagh, and Carrigane. The townlands are located in the parishes of Kilcrumper, Glanworth and Brigown and Barony of Condons & Clangibbon, with the exception of Gortore, and Glenwood, which are located in the Barony of Fermoy. The route begins at the northern end of the Fermoy Bypass at Gortore, c. 2km north of Fermoy, and continues northwards across the River Funshion, and to the west of the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion, for 4 km. At Caherdrinny, it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains. From there it descends north-eastwards onto the broad plain that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown. It crosses the existing N8 at Gortnahown and passes to the east of Mitchelstown, crossing the R665 Mitchelstown-Ballyporeen road and links up with the N8 Cashel Mitchelstown Road at Carrigane south of Kilbeheny and 2 km west of where the borders of the Cork, Limerick and Tipperary counties meet.

3 Receiving environment The topography of East Cork and Waterford consists of east/west valleys separated by in- tervening ridges. The ridges consist of sandstones and mudstones of the Devonian Period (Old Red Sandstone) laid down 355-410 million years ago and the valleys of Carbonifer- ous limestones laid down 290-355 million years ago. The sediments covering many of the rocks are mainly of glacial origin deposited by glacial ice or meltwater (Sleeman and McConnell 1995, 1). The landscape of the area is dominated by the Galtee Mountains to the north, the Ballyhoura Mountains to the north-west, the Kilworth Mountains to the east and the Nagles to the south. The landscape is drained by the Blackwater River, the Funshion River (which flows into the Blackwater River c. 2 km north-east of Fermoy), and the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion River. The largest population centres in the area, Fermoy and Mitchelstown, have developed on the banks of the River Blackwater and Gradoge (a tributary of the Funshion), respectively. The route begins at Gortore, c. 2 km north of Fermoy, at an elevation of c. 40 m OD. At Caherdrinny, it rises to its maximum elevation of c. 180 m OD as it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains, before descending onto the broad plain that that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown, at an elevation of 100-120 m OD. The soils on the southern portion of the route are characterised by acid brown earths derived from mixed sandstone and limestone glacial till. These soils occur generally in the valleys of Cork and Waterford (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 61), and have a wide use range, being suitable for tillage and grass production. The soils on the western limits of Kilworth Mountains are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone. The soils on the northern portion of the route are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone and shale glacial till. They have a wide range of potential uses and are well

3 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

suited to arable and pastoral farming (ibid., 67). Land use along the route was almost en- tirely grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing, with only an occasional tillage field.

4 Archaeological and historical background Archaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the new road (Figure 2). The periods are referred to as follows: Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC), Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Chalcolithic (Beaker) (c. 2500-2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 BC), and Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500), early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to 1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 to the present). A number of Giant Irish Deer (Megaloceros giganteus) skulls, large antlers, antler fragments and various long-bones were retrieved from the clay sediments, c. 1.5 m below the peat stratum at Ballyoran Bog (04E1014) on the route of the N8 Rathcormac Fermoy. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 11201-10962 was returned for the Giant Irish Deer. Gi- ant Irish Deer are extinct but are known to have inhabited Ireland during two separate periods in the Pleistocene (from 37,000-32,000 BP and 11,750-10,950 BP), with examples from lake deposits beneath peat bogs frequently dating to the period between 11,750 BP and 10,950 BP (Woodman et al. 1997). The Ballyoran Bog examples were found in this typical location of lacustrine (lake) sediments beneath peat and they therefore pre-date the beginnings of bog formation and the first human settlement of the area.

Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC) The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 8000 BC - 4000 BC). In Munster, the majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Meso- lithic occupation has ‘come from the Blackwater valley in Co. Cork’ (Woodman 1989, 116). Flint scatters were recorded in the townlands of Kilcummer Lower (CO034-060) on the northern bank of the Blackwater c. 13 km to the south-west of the route and in Ballynamona (CO018-099) and Wallstown (CO018-100) on the northern and southern sides of the Awbeg river respectively c. 20 km to the west of the route (Power et al. 2000, 2). Mesolithic sites and find spots were recorded on other road schemes in Co. Cork, these included; Rathhealy 3 03E1678 and Curraghprevin 3 03E1138 (N8 Rathcormac Fermoy Bypass), Ballynacarriaga 1 01E0567 (N25 Youghal Bypass), Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546 (N22 Ballincollig Bypass) and Carrigrohane 3 02E0431 (N22 BG). Mesolithic activity was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown at Gortore E2410 and at Caherdrinny 3 E2422 and Mesolithic stone tools were recovered from Ballinglanna North 1 E2414, Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 and Ballinglanna North 6 E3972.

4 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Derry Donegal Antrim

Tyrone

Leitrim Fermanagh Armagh Down

Sligo Garryleagh 1 Cavan Louth Carrigane 1 Mayo Roscommon Longford E2433 E2434 Meath

Westmeath Dublin Galway Oﬀaly Kildare

Laois Wicklow Clare Kildrum 1 Carlow E3971 Tipperary Kilkenny Limerick Wexford Kilshanny 3 Kerry N8 Waterford E2432 Cork

Kilshanny 2 E2431

Ballynamona 2 Kilshanny 1 E2429 E2430

BallynamonaBallynamona 1 1 Glenatluckly 1 E2428E2428 E2427

Gortnahown 2 E2426

Gortnahown 1 Gortnahown 3 E2423 E2477

Gortnahown 4 E3832

Caherdrinny 3 E2422

Caherdrinny 2 E2421

Caherdrinny 1 E2420 Ballinrush 1 E2419

Ballinglanna North 5 E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417

Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972

Ballinglanna North 2 E2415

Ballinglanna North 1 E2414 Ballynacarriga 3 E2412 Ballynacarriga 2 E2413

Ballynacarriga 1 Key E2411

Post Medieval Gortore 1B Early Medieval E2410 Gortore 2 Prehistoric Site E3973 Prehistoric Settlement Site Burnt Mound Non-archaeological 0km 2km Townland Boundaries Figure 2: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the RMP map CO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028. The map is based on the second edition Ordnance Survey maps.

5 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC) The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the beginnings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became more sedentary in nature. A substantial Neolithic settlement site has been recorded at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Previously the nearest known Neolithic house was located in Pepper- hill (CO016-226/01) c. 30 km to the northwest of the route. It was recorded during the construction of the Bruff-Mallow gas pipeline (Gowen 1988, 44-51). The material culture includes the manufacture of pottery, flint and stone arrowheads, scrapers, axes etc. The range of monuments types includes Megalithic tombs, single burial graves and stone circles. Megalithic tombs can be sub-divided into court tombs, portal tombs, passage tombs and wedge tombs. There are few wedge tombs or stone circles known from north or east Cork. Two of the exceptions are wedge tombs located at Lab- bacallee (CO027-086), which is one of the largest wedge tombs in the country, and at Manning (CO027-091) both located c. 4 km west of the N8. Recent infrastructural work on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy and the Ballincollig Bypass have added significantly to the number of Neolithic sites in the county. A Neo- lithic house was excavated at Gortore (E2119), on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy road and another Neolithic house was excavated at Barnagore (02E0384), along the route of the Ballincollig Bypass. Both of these Cork examples produced essentially the same radiocarbon results (cal BC 3940-3620 at Barnagore and cal BC 3928-3655 from Gortore) and they represent the oldest known houses in the county. A single pit at Fermoy townland (05E0078), located c. 3 km to the south of Gortore, produced 12 sherds of a Middle Neolithic Globular bowl, and another site at Curraghprevin (c.12 km south of Gortore) produced Western Neolithic (Early Neolithic) pottery and a radiocarbon date of 3090- 2580 BC (Late Neolithic). Rectangular Neolithic houses were recorded on the route of the N8 FM at Gortore 1b (E2410), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416) and Caherdrinny 3 (E2422). A large enclosure containing several structures associated with Late Neolithic pottery was excavated at Bal- lynacarriaga 3 (E2412). Activity dating to the Neolithic was also recorded at Ballynamona 1 (E2428), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), and Gortnahown 2 (E2426) and Gortore 2 (E3973).

Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 BC) The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase in settlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold items manufactured. The range of burial site types includes cist graves, pit and urn burials, cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and stand- ing stones also date to the Bronze Age. Both enclosed and unenclosed settlement sites are known. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh; over 2,000 examples have been recorded in County Cork alone. These monuments survive as low mounds of charcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and generally situated close to a water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cooking places’, whereby stones

6 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ were heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough of water, the water continued to boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food was cooked within the hot water. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound. The Bronze Age cemetery site at Mitchelstowndown West, c. 16 km to the north of Mitchelstown, contains 53 small barrows. The Discovery Programme Report 1 (Daly and Grogan 1992, 44) selected four of this group for excavation. Until recently, Bronze Age settlement sites were a rarity in North Cork. A Bronze Age occupation site was recorded underlying the medieval ringfort Lisleagh I (CO027-158) c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 (Power et al. 2000, 210). A house site was excavated at Killydonoghoe on the route of the N8 Glanmire-Watergrasshill Bypass (Sherlock 2003). Three circular houses dating to the Middle Bronze Age were excavated at Mitchelstown (04E1072) on the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. A large Bronze Age settlement site consisting of three circular enclosures and three circular houses was excavated in 2003 at Ballybrowney (03E1058), on the route of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy (Cotter 2005, 40). Bronze Age round houses were recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown at Kilshanny 1 (E2432) and Ballynamona 2 (E2429). Burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh sites were recorded at Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416), Balling- lanna North 6 (E3972), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), Caherdrinny 1 (E2420), Kilshanny 3 (E2432) and Kildrum 1 (E3971). Two ring ditches and associated cists and pits burials were recorded at Ballynacarriga 3 (E2412). Portions of several encrusted urns and food vessels dating to the Early Bronze Age were recorded in association with the burials. A cremation burial and associated Early Bronze Age urn were also recorded at Glenatlucky (E2427).

Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500) Until the last decade there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in the Cork region. Settlement sites are few and far between as well as being difficult to identify (Woodman 2000) while the material culture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, believed to have marked tribal boundaries, and hillforts are two of the most visible monuments of the period. Recent infrastructural work on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass, the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass and the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy has altered the picture considerably. Three separate stretches of a linear boundary, the Claidh Dubh, have been recorded in County Cork. The longest stretch, c. 24 km in length extends from the Nagle Mountains, across the Blackwater valley and into the Ballyhoura Hills. Radiocarbon dating following excavation of a section of it revealed it dated to some time before AD100 (Doody 1995, 23). Two of the four hillfort sites in Cork are located in North Cork (Power et al. 2000, 205). Caherdrinny (CO019:97/01&03) is located at the western end of the Kilworth Mountains, c. 700 m to the west of the N8, Corrin (CO035:49/01) is located at the east-

7 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

ern end of the Nagle Mountains, overlooking a pass between the Blackwater and Bride river valleys just south of Fermoy. Iron Age dates were returned from a roundhouse at Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546, a possible bowl furnace at Curraheen 1 01E1209 and the fulacht fiadh at Curraheen 4 02E1297 on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass; the Iron Age structure at Muckridge 1 01E0429 on the N25 Youghal Bypass; iron working sites at Kilrussane 01E0701 and Trabstown 01E0501 on the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass; the iron working site at Lisnagar De- mesne 1 03E1510, the pit at Maulane East 1 03E1286, the pit at Scartbarry 3 03E1800, the corn-drying kiln at Rath-healy 1 03E1139, the burnt mound at Fermoy Wood 04E1014 and the ring ditch at Ballybrowney Lower 3 05E0233 all on the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy. Activity dating to the Iron Age was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitch- elstown at Ballinglanna North 3 E2416, Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, Ballynacarriaga 3 E2412, Gortnahown 1 E2423, Gortnahown 3 E2477 and Caherdrinny 3 E2422. The sites, with the exception of a single fire pit at Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, did not date exclusively to the Iron Age.

Early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100) The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most numerous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000 and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s (Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu- lar society (Stout 1997). A major research excavation of two ringforts was undertaken at Lisleagh, c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 route, in the late 1980s/early1990s. Structural, domestic and industrial evidence was recorded at both sites. A number of stake and wattle round houses, and ironworking were recorded in Lisleagh I, which had two phases of occupation, ranging from the early 7th century to the 9th century AD (Monk 1995, 105-116). Souterrains, frequently associated with ringforts and enclosures, are man made un- derground chambers linked by narrow passageways. The concealed entrance is located at ground level. It is thought souterrains were used for storage or places of refuge during times of trouble (Clinton 2001). It has also been hypothesised that some may have been used for housing slaves. The monastery of Brigown (which gave the name to the modern parish in Mitch- elstown) was founded in the 7th century by Fanahan. Fanahan is reputed to have commissioned seven smiths to make seven sickles which were used by him for self-mortifica- tion. The new monastery was named, Brí Gabhann, for the smiths (Power 1996, 3). The ecclesiastical remains comprise a church, graveyard, holy well and site of round tower

8 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

(CO019:30/01-05). A possible enclosure site with evidence of metalworking was excavated by John Purcell in Brigown. This was possibly the enclosure of Brigown. No dates were obtained from the site (John Purcell personal communication). A horizontal-wheeled mill (CO027-108) was located on the northern side of the Glen- corra Stream c. 120 m north of the confluence with the River Funshion. A ringfort and associated souterrain (CO027-109) were excavated on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown at Ballynacarriga 2 (E2413). Two circular houses and a com- prehensive range of metalworking activities were excavated at Gortnahown 2 (E2426). Sites with evidence of metalworking activities were also excavated at Ballynamona 2 (E2429) and Ballinglanna North 1 (E2412).

High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650) This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tower houses. Mitchelstown was formerly known as Brigown / Mitchelstown (CO019- 149). It was listed as a market town in 1299 and was located on the southern bank of the Gradoge River, to the east of Mitchelstown Castle (Power et al. 2000, 595). The town developed under the patronage of the House of Desmond. It passed into the hands of the Earls of Kingston in the 17th century (Power 1996, 23). The Condon family controlled the barony of Condons and Clongibbon. Two of their castles are located in close vicinity to the route of the N8 FM. Cloghleagh Castle (CO027:113) is located on the northern bank of the Funshion River to the east of the new route. It was built on an outcrop of limestone bedrock. It is a 5-storey tower with associated bawn wall (Power et al. 2000, 537). Caherdrinny Castle (CO019:97/02) is located to the west of the route. It was a 5-storey tower built within the hillfort enclosure (CO019:97/01&03). Glanworth Castle (Boherash CO027-42) is located on a sheer limestone cliff overlooking the River Funshion 5 km to the west of the route. The th13 -century hall house is associated with a four-sided walled enclosure (ibid. 516).

Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present) The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country houses and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). Three demesnes associated with country houses are within the route of the N8 at Moorepark, Ballynacarriga and Glenwood. The estate system was dismantled in Ireland in the early 20th century. Demesnes usually comprise of a large country house with associated stables, farm buildings and gate lodges, areas of woodland and ornamental gardens etc. The demesne was usually enclosed by a high stone wall such as that associated with Moorepark. Moorepark house and demesne was the seat of the Earls Mountcashell (Lewis 1988, 312). The Moorepark Estate covered an area around 800 acres and extended both north and south of the river Funshion. The house was sold to the British War Office c. 1903 by the 5th Earl’s daughter (Bence-Jones 1996, 211). It burned down in 1908 and was never

9 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Derry Donegal Antrim

Tyrone

Leitrim Fermanagh Armagh Down

Sligo Garryleagh 1 Cavan Louth Carrigane 1 Mayo Roscommon Longford E2433 E2434 Meath

Westmeath Dublin Galway Oﬀaly Kildare

Laois Wicklow Clare Kildrum 1 Carlow RMP Sheet No. CO10 E3971 Tipperary Kilkenny RMP Sheet No. CO11 Limerick Wexford Kilshanny 3 Kerry N8 Waterford E2432 Cork

Kilshanny 2 E2431

Ballynamona 2 Kilshanny 1 E2429 E2430

BallynamonaBallynamona 1 1 Glenatluckly 1 E2428E2428 E2427

Gortnahown 2 E2426

Gortnahown 1 Gortnahown 3 E2423 E2477

Gortnahown 4 E3832

Caherdrinny 3 E2422

Caherdrinny 2 E2421

MP Sheet No. CO19 Caherdrinny 1 RMP Sheet No. CO20 E2420 Ballinrush 1 E2419

Ballinglanna North 5 E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417

Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972

Ballinglanna North 2 E2415

Ballinglanna North 1 E2414 Ballynacarriga 3 E2412 Ballynacarriga 2 E2413 RMP Sheet No. CO27 Ballynacarriga 1 Key E2411

Post Medieval Gortore 1B Early Medieval E2410 Gortore 2 Prehistoric Site E3973 Prehistoric Settlement Site Burnt Mound Non-archaeological 0km 2km RMP Sheet No. CO28 Townland Boundaries Figure 3: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ordnance Survey map CO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028.

10 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ rebuilt. No trace of it now survives The demesne is clearly defined by woodland on the 1841-2 and 1906 edition Ordnance Survey maps, which was most likely enclosed by a wall. It is likely that the demesne walls are contemporary with the mansion house and therefore date to the 18th century. The Cork to Dublin mail coach road originally ran to west of the demesne walls as it appears on the 1841-2 and 1906 Ordnance Survey maps. The site of a workhouse (C0019-11301-) built in 1852 is located in Kilshanny townland to the east of Mitchelstown. The complex of buildings, including a hospital chapel and mortuary, was enclosed within a three-metre high limestone wall and could accommo- date up to 600 people. Closed in 1916 and burned by the IRA in 1922, only the boundary wall and main entrance way survive today (Power 2002, 48). A late 19th century bridge of rubble limestone, approached by a causeway at either end, carries a tertiary road from Kilworth-Glanworth over the Glencorra Stream. A road crosses the stream at the same location on the 1841-2 Ordnance survey map, but the bridging structure is not named. The site is named Glencorra Bridge on the 1906 edition of the Ordnance Survey map and is of local architectural significance.

5 Site Location and Topography The site was situated on a flat plain, in a low lying area between the hills and mountains in the surrounding landscape (Plate 1). The site slopes slightly from the east down towards the west of the area of excavation. The site is split into two areas (Figure 4) covering a distance of 95 m north to south. Area 1 measured 25 m north/south and 31 m east/west and Area 2 measured 22 m north/ south and 33 m east/west. They had a combined area of 1067 sq. m. The northern extent lay approximately 500 m south of Ballynamona 2 (where metalworking furnaces, a fulacht fiadh/burnt mound and associated structure and two probably Bronze Age round houses were excavated) while the southern extent lay 650 m north of the Encrusted urn cremation burial at Glentalucky 1.

6 Excavation methodology The excavation was carried out under E-Number E2428 and complied with the method statement approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Govern- ment, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision. Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Where appropriate mini-diggers were used, and in the larger areas to be stripped multiple large tracked machines were used; all stripping operations involved the use of multiple dumpers for topsoil mounding. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued radially out- ward until the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeologi-

11 ISSUE 10:EachtraJournal-SSN2009-2237 12 182600 182700 ± 0 0 0 0

5 91 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 107 86 67 71 57 97 72 55 89 81 60 63 101 76

Area 2

Area 1

50 51 47 35 37 39 31 21 Archaeological Excavation Report 11 24 27 4 0 0 5 5 3 10 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 42 34

0 50m

182600 182700 Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428. Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Plate 1: View of the excavation at Ballynamona 1 (Area 1) with the surrounding hills visible in the background, from the north-west (Photo: John Sunderland). cal features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and meaningful record of the site to be preserved (Plate 2). The excavation, environmental sampling, site photographs, site drawings, find care and retrieval, on-site recording and site archive was as per the Procedures for Archaeological works as attached to the licence method statements for excavation licences. The site was excavated from 26/02/07 to 16/03/07. Only areas within the CPO were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation at Area 1 measured 492 m2 and Area 2 measured 575 m2.

7 Excavation results The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register (Appendix 1) and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3) and the artefacts are listed in the finds register (Appendix 4). The site at Ballynamona 1 was discovered during Phase 1 archaeological testing of the new route, carried out under licence no. 05E1150 (Cotter et al 2006). Features found during testing included six pits, some containing prehistoric pottery. The site was classified as a prehistoric settlement site on the basis of testing results. Excavation revealed

13 ISSUE 10:EachtraJournal-SSN2009-2237 14 182600 182625 ±

49 5 5 6 6 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 50 51 47 35 39 37 31

45 21 24 11 27

4 Archaeological Excavation Report 3 Area 2 0 0 10 5 5 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 42

Area 1 0 20m

182600 182625 Figure 5: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428 Area 1. Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Plate 2: Working shot of excavations at Ballynamona 1 (Photo: John Sunderland). nine pits, two post-holes and a linear feature in Area 1 and 12 pits and two linear features from Area 2.

Area 1 The archaeology in Area 1 included pits, post-holes and linear features (Figure 5, Plate 3).

Pits A total of nine pits were found in Area 1 (C.3, C.10, C.11, C.21, C.24, C.27, C.34, C.39 and C.42). The fills of all of these pits contained charcoal and the similarity in their fills may suggest that these were all the result of the same type of activity. However, the exact function of these pits is difficult determine. Charcoal from the fill of pit C.34, identified as hazel/alder, indicated activity in the Early Bronze Age, cal BC 1889–1750 (UB-13173).

Post-holes Two post-holes were located in the centre of Area 1 (C.35 and C.37). On average they measured 0.32 m in length, 0.22 m in width and 0.13 m in depth. They were sub-circular in shape and had steeply sloping sides. The fills of both post-holes contained moderate charcoal inclusions. There is no indication of their function, and no associated features to indicate whether they originally formed part of a structure or a simple fence-line. They

15 ISSUE 10:EachtraJournal-SSN2009-2237 16 182675 182700 ± 4 4 0 0 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1

Late Neolithic 107 Grooved Ware - Vessel 1 86

67 Early Bronze Age Vase Urn - Vessel 2 71 57 97 2 2 72 9 9 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 81 55 60 89

101 63

76 Area 2 Archaeological Excavation Report 0 0 8 8 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 Area 1 0 20m

182675 182700 Figure 6: Post-excavation plan of Ballynamona 1 E2428 Area 2. Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Plate 3: View of the excavation at Ballynamona 1 (Area 1), from the north (Photo: John Sunderland). may also have been simple marking posts to indicate the location of below ground pits such as pit C.39, which is found immediately adjacent to the two post-holes.

Context Length Width Depth C.35 0.4 0.25 0.18 C.37 0.24 0.2 0.08 Table 1: Post-hole dimensions

Linear features A single linear feature (C.45) was uncovered in Area 1. It was aligned north to south and measured 0.84 in width and 0.2 in depth; the length of the linear feature extended beyond the limit of the excavation. This linear feature represents a drainage ditch that was re- quired in order to remove water from low-lying Area 1. This feature probably represented a modern agricultural ditch, indicating that it post-dated the other archaeological activity on this site.

Area 2 The archaeology in Area 2 included pits (some of which contained funerary pottery) and two linear features (Figure 6).

Pits A total of 12 pits were excavated in Area 2. These can be divided into three separate categories: pits that contained prehistoric pottery (C.55 and C.86), three pits associated

17 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Plate 4: Post-excavation view of possible cremation pit (C.86), from north. with pit C.55 (C.57, C.60 and C.63) and seven other charcoal-filled pits (C.67, C.71, C.72, C.76, C.81, C.91 and C.107). Prehistoric pottery was found in two pits (C.55 and C.86) in Area 2. The first (C.55) was oval in shape and concave in profile and it measured 0.85 m in length, 0.74 m in width and 0.1 m in depth. The pit contained thirty-six sherds of a Vase urn (E2428:56:1- 58) and charcoal fragments. The pottery was identified as being from a single vessel (Ves- sel 2, Figure 7). Although this pottery type is usually associated with burial there was no cremated bone in this pit and it therefore appears that this particular Vase urn was not used as funerary ware. The second pit (C.86) was located 8.5 m to the west of the pit (C.55). It was sub-circular in shape and concave in profile and it measured 0.5 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.12 m in depth (Plate 4). Occasional charcoal pieces were recovered from both fills and nine sherds of prehistoric pottery (E2428:87:1-9) were recovered from the primary fill of this feature, all identified as being from one Grooved Ware vessel (Vessel 1, Figure 8). The pottery indicates activity in the Late Neolithic. Hazel/alder charcoal found within this pit returned a radiocarbon date of cal BC 3760–3644 (UB-12975), indicating an Early Neolithic date of activity. This pit appeared heavily truncated in modern times (possibly due to agricultural activities). Although these two pits were the only contexts at the site where pottery was found, the two contexts appear to be unrelated since the pottery from the pit (C.55) was Late Neolithic while the pottery from pit (C.86) was Early Bronze Age.

18 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Figure 7: Illustration of Early Bronze Age Vase Urn, Vessel 2.

a b c

0 cm 3 cm Figure 8: Illustration of Late Neolithic Grooved Ware, Vessel 1.

There were three more pits (C.57, C.60 and C.63) found in close proximity to the pit (C.55). On average the pits measured 0.88 m in length, 0.64 m in width and 0.2 m in depth. One pit (C.57) was oval in shape, but it was extremely shallow and was probably heavily truncated. A second pit (C.60) was irregular in shape and its primary fill was a firm mid reddish orange sandy clay (C.62). This evidence of in situ burning indicated that this pit may have been some type of pyre for cremating human remains. The third pit (C.63) contained three fills, two of which had concentrated charcoal deposits within them. This may have been a dump of waste burnt material resulting from the burning of human remains.

19 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Plate 5: Post-excavation view of pit (C.72), from south-west.

Pit type Context Length Width Depth Pit with Late Neolithic 55 0.85 0.74 0.1 pottery Pit with Early Bronze Age 86 0.5 0.4 0.12 pottery Pit 57 0.86 0.64 0.08 Pit 60 0.9 0.52 0.18 Pit 63 0.9 0.78 0.34 Table 2: Pit dimensions

Other pits A total of seven other pits (for example Plates 5, 6 and 7) were found in Area 2 (C.67, C.71, C.72, C.76, C.81, C.91 and C.107). Like the nine pits from Area 1, the fills of all of these pits contained charcoal (see, for example, the charcoal-rich fill in C.91, Plate 8). The fills were relatively similar to the charcoal-filled pits from Area 1 and they may have served similar functions in the past. However, the exact nature of their use is unknown.

Linear features A total of two parallel linear features (C.77 and C.80) were discovered in Area 2. The linear feature (C.77) was aligned north to south and measured 1.5 in width and 0.45 in depth (Plate 9). The linear feature (C.80) was located 1.95 m to the west. It was aligned north to south and measured 1.6 m in width and 0.3 in depth. These two liner features represent two parallel field boundaries. These may have been contemporary but were

20 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Plate 6: Post-excavation view of pit (C.76), from north-east. more likely an initial boundary that was later replaced. The sterile nature of the fills of the three features suggests that they naturally silted up over time and post-dated the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This indicates that these features are later in date than the other activity at the site and possibly represent modern agricultural activity.

Natural features A total of ten natural features were observed across Area 1 and Area 2. In Area 1, six features were observed (C.4, C.31, C.47, C.49, C.50 and C.51). In Area 2 four natural features were found (C.89, C.97, C.101 and C.103). The irregularity in shape, the lack of depth and sterile fills of these features suggests that they are natural in origin, possibly vegetation bowls. Four of the ten natural features contained charcoal within their fills. The charcoal inclusions within their fills are most likely the result of contamination by surrounding burning activity.

Charcoal Charcoal from this site was identified by Mary Dillon in advance of radiocarbon dating. The results indicate that wood species such as hazel Corylus( ) and Alder (Alnus) were used at the site.

21 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Plate 7: Post-excavation view of pit (C.71).

Plate 8: Partially excavated view of pit (C.91), showing charcoal-rich fill, from north.

22 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Plate 9: South-east facing section of linear feature (C.77).

Plant remains The plant remains from this site were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 5). Fifteen samples from this site were scanned for plant remains but material was only recovered from five of these: C.64 (S.44), C.73 (S.53), C.87 (S.62), C.88 (S.63) and C.76/C.94 (S.70). All of the plant material was identified as fragments of hazelnut shell fragments and this is not considered a significant assemblage.

Pottery Pottery was the only artefact-type retrieved from this site. It was examined by Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan (Appendix 6). The pit (C.86) contained fifteen sherds of Late Neolithic Grooved Ware, all from a single vessel (Vessel 1). This example included some unusual forms of decoration for this type of pottery. There was also carbonised residue on the interior surface of some sherds and this indicates that the vessel was originally used for cooking. Early Bronze Age pottery was also identified; 66 sherds from a Vase urn (Vessel 2) was identified from another cremation pit (C.55). Once again, carbonised residue is present on the interior surface of this vessel, although Vase urns are not generally seen as cooking vessels.

23 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

The pottery results indicate archaeological activity that is spread from the Late Neo- lithic to the Early Bronze Age, with Grooved Ware usually dated to c. 2900 – 2450 BC and pottery from the Vase Tradition usually dated to c. 1903 – 1830 BC. This suggests a significant gap between the depositions of these separate pottery vessels. The composition of the pottery from this site is similar to that retrieved from the nearby site of Ballyna- carriga 3, where Late Neolithic Grooved Ware and Early Bronze Age vessels in the Vase Tradition were found in much larger quantities.

Radiocarbon dates Radiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M.Stuiver & P.J. Re- imer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.

Lab Context Material Un-cali- δ 13 C 2 sigma 1 sigma Period code brated date calibration calibration UB- C.88 (fill of Hazel/Alder 4912 +/- 25 -27.0 cal BC cal BC Early 12975 pit C.86) (Corylus/ Alnus) 3760-3742 3698-3658 Neolithic With Grooved charcoal 3731-3730 Ware pottery 3714-3644

UB- C.41 (fill of Hazel (Corylus) 3499 +/- 24 -26.2 cal BC cal BC Early 13173 pit C.34 in charcoal 1889-1750 1880-1867 Bronze Area 1) (0.2 g) 1848-1774 Age

24 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

9 Discussion The archaeological results from Ballynamona 1 indicated that there was some Early Neo- lithic activity in Area 2 (hazel and alder charcoal returned an Early Neolithic radiocarbon date). This is combined with artefactual (ceramic) evidence from Area 2, where Late Neo- lithic and Early Bronze Age pottery types were recovered. Early Neolithic radiocarbon dates were recovered from numerous sites excavated along the route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown (see Figure 9). These included sites at Ballinglanna North 3, Caherdrinny 3 and Gortore 1b (where typical Early Neolithic houses were excavated), as well as Ballynacarriga 3 (where Early Neolithic dates were obtained from deposits, but were not associated with any definite occupation from this period). The results from Ballynamona 1 fall into a similar category as those obtained from Ballynacarriga 3: the date indicates some form of activity in the Early Neolithic, but the exact nature of this activity is unclear. The site at Ballynamona 1 contained two pits with prehistoric pottery, dated to the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. The Late Neolithic pottery from the site, identified as Grooved Ware, is a type that is not necessarily associated with burials, but does appear to have ritualistic connotations. It is often found associated with passage tombs and timber circles (Grogan et al. 2007, 136 – 9). It is also usually associated with high quality material culture (Cooney 2000, 17). However, at Ballynamona 1, although several pits were excavated near the area where Grooved Ware was found, there was no identifi- able pattern in the archaeological features: they do not appear to have formed a circle, or portion of a circle. There was also no evidence for other high status cultural material at this site. The fact that an Early Neolithic date was returned from charcoal within a pit where Late Neolithic pottery was also found suggests that there was some residual material at the site during Late Neolithic occupation at the site. It is possible that this was from earlier occupation, or alternatively that it was simply old wood that was burnt in the Late Neolithic. Carbonised residue adhered to the interior of the Early Bronze Age Vase urn found at Ballynamona 1 (Appendix 6). This find suggests that at Ballynamona 1 this pot was used for domestic purposes. In fact, the evidence from other pottery vessels from the Vase tradition found along the route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown route suggests that this was the norm: carbonised residue was found on the interior surfaces of all three encrusted urns discovered at Ballynacarriga 3 and Glenatlucky, in one vessel the deposits were very thick. Carbonised residue was also found on the interior surfaces of two of the three food vessels found at Ballynacarriga 3. All of these vessels belong to the Early Bronze Age Vase tradition and are usually associated with burials (Waddell 1998, 144 – 5) and at Ballyna- carriga 3 and Glenatlucky they pottery was associated with cremated bone. The absence of cremated bone from Ballynamona 1 and the more domestic nature of the site could suggest that funerary urns were also occasionally used in settlement contexts.

ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

4 7 0 2 1 1 4 7 5 3 0 1

G l e m n ¢ r o e 0 Tar 1

ad nag

Glou

l l

s a

e b r

t n

a h

m S o l i

g t

a u

a w

h a

4 s l 4

9 9

l B

6 ni 6

i 9 9

g 8 a 8

1 1 r nf

e A l

G 0

O ) A

( 1

) H e

4 U n

T as

l ( 1 o

O g

R t

n ou t s

n M

O D

hi g e

s W n

Y n i m L u O I d e T l T

n t L K t S a L A E S e S t

G H

C rra

T Glenco I

e M g

o d

a r

. G ) Y ( 3 O )

M b ( 5

R m E r o F e t t

t n c

a i o h

i h i

S c s l

n a

n g

h o e t

i r

i h e

L M

s t

a w

a l

4 4 B 9 9 6 6 4 4 ) 7 7 1 1 ( 2

e p e

e l h S ) r c i ( 3 c

e b v r a

e C K e l a

Ke hy a r a F ) 4 ) ( 2

( 3 w

r o r n

i r

N a

N B a C U

A g

R be

U w O A

Neolithic on of the and N8 sites in the environs Fermoy Mitchelstown

H Ogeen

4 7 0 2 1 1 4 7 5 3 0 1 9: Figure

26 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

On the other hand, the absence of cremated bone may simply indicate that these pits were not burials deposits, but ‘blind’ burials or cenotaphs instead (i.e. deposits that contained cremation deposit or pyre-like material, but no bone). This was widely identified at Killoran 10, Lisheen, Co. Tipperary and along the route of the gas pipeline to the west (Grogan et al. 2007, 118). In the case of Ballynamona 1 the deposits, although containing some charcoal, did not appear to be pyre material. This suggests that the deposits are not blind burials. However, whether these are formal deposits or the remains of domestic occupation at Ballynamona 1 is unclear. What is clear is the fact that the Early Bronze Age material from Ballynamona 1 is found within a landscape where there is significant evidence for contemporary activity (Figure 10). The recovery of Early Neolithic radiocarbon dates and both Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age pottery suggests a relatively long-lived phase of occupation/use at Ballyna- mona 1. The pottery evidence also indicates a continuity between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. This is common and Early Bronze Age activity often masked Late Neolithic material (Cooney 2000, 17). In total, the Early Neolithic radiocarbon date from Area 1 suggests that it significantly predates the activity from Area 2, where artefactual and radiocarbon dates indicates activity from the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age.

ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

4 7 0 2 1 1 4 7 5 3 0 1

G l e m n ¢ r o e 0 Tar 1

ad nag

Glou

l l

s a

e b r

t n

a h

m S o l i

g t

a u

a w

h a

4 s l 4

9 9

l B

6 ni 6

i 9 9

g 8 a 8

1 1 r nf

e A l

G 0

N I )

A T ( 1

U n

O t A s

N n

H U d

T as l n

O g R a n ou

M O D

S t

s W

Y n L u O I

F L K S L A E )

G H C )

rra ( 5

T enco Gl I 2 .

e g r M

( 2

o d

a t

r n a G e Y O S c m

e M c l i t R t h E t i F

L S e

i h

F o

)

i h

3 s t

6 n

a w

( 1

F k

) c

a l ( 2 d

4 4 B 9 9 a e i 6 6 l 4 4 F 7 7

1 1 r c t i

c p

e e h S b a r l u F K e

e l a

Ke ) hy ) a

r ( 3 ( 3

a F e r n i v

a a

C C

T N

U )

O 5 M )

( 2 A g

( 3

R be

w l

U w a O A r o i

r r

H Ogeen

Early Bronzeon of the and N8 sites in the Age environs Fermoy Mitchelstown

Y B a B u L

4 7 0 2 1 1 4 7 5 3 0 1 10: Figure

28 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

10 References Barry, T. (1987) The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland. London, Methuen & Co. Ltd.

Bence-Jones, M. (1996) A Guide to Irish County Houses. London, Constable & Co. Ltd.

Clinton, M. (2001) The Souterrains of Ireland. Bray, Wordwell.

Cooney, G. (2000) Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland. London, Routledge.

Cotter, E., Buckley, K. & Drumm, M. (2006) N8 Fermoy Mitchelstown Phase 1 – final archaeological testing report, unpublished report for licence no. 05E1150.

Cotter, E. (2005) ‘Bronze Age Ballybrowney, Co. Cork’, Recent Archaeological Discoveries on National Road Schemes 2004. National Roads Authority Monograph Series No.2.

Daly, A. and Grogan, E (1992) ‘Excavation of Four Barrows in Mitchelstowndown West, Knocklong, Co. Limerick’, Discovery Programme Reports 1. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Doody, M. (1995) ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 2, 12-44. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Gardiner, M.J. and Radford,T. (1980) Soil Assocaitions of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.

Gowen, M. (1988) Three Irish Gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Dublin, Wordwell.

Grogan, E., O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. (2007) The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.

Lewis, S. (1988) Lewis’ Cork: A Topographical Dictionary of the Parishes, Towns and Villages of Cork City and County. Cork, Collins Press.

Monk, M. (1995) ‘A Tale of Two Ringforts Lisleagh I and II’, Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol.100,.105-116.

Power, D., Lane, S. and Byrne, E., Egan, U., Sleeman, M., with Cotter, E., Monk, J. (2000) Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 4: North Cork Parts I & II. Dublin, The Stationery Office.

29 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Power, B. (1996) From the Danes to Dairygold A History of Mitchelstown. Mount Cashell Books.

Power, B. (2002) Images of Mitchelstown, Stories and pictures from my own place. Mount Cashell Books.

Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. (2004) ‘IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP’, Radiocarbon 46, 1029-1058.

Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. (1993) ‘Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program’, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.

Sherlock, R. (2003) ‘Killydonoghoe’ Bennett, I. (Ed) Excavations 2001. Bray, Wordwell.

Sleeman, A.G., & McConnell, B. (1995) Geology of East Cork-Waterford. Dublin, Geological Survey of Ireland.

Stout, M. (1997) The Irish Ringfort. Dublin, Four Courts Press.

Waddell, J. (1998) The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway, Galway University Press.

Woodman, P. McCarthy, M. and Monaghan, N.T. (1997) ‘The Irish Quaternary Fauna Project’, Quaternary Science Reviews 16 (2), 129-159.

Woodman, P.C. (1989) ‘The Mesolithic in Munster: a preliminary assessment’, pp. 116 – 124 in Bonsall, C. (ed) The Mesolithic in Europe.Edinburgh, John Donald.

Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’., pp. 1 -10 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Bray, Wordwell.

30 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions cut trench of Extent cut trench of Extent 0.3-0.4 x 0.54 x 0.9 0.08 x 0.5 x 0.7 0.04 x 0.3 x 0.5 0.08 x 0.18 x 0.3 0.3 X ? x 1.0 1.8 x 1.8 X ? 0.08 x 0.1 X ? 0.4 x 0.6 x 1.1 - - - Dark brownish silty clay of loose compaction with occasional with compaction loose of clay silty brownish Dark smallangular stones. Con silt. little a with clay sandy reddish/yellow/orange Compact angular medium tainingstones. smalland occasional gentle and slope of gradualbreak with pit flatOval, bottomed C9. and C7 C6, = Fills sides. smooth natural a be to likely Most pit. irregular shallow shaped Very filledtopsoil. with depression occasional with silt clayey black brownish dark fill. Firm Upper flecksoccasional Also with moderate sub-angularand pebbles. charcoal. of smallpieces charcoal flecks. frequent with silt black dark soft fill. Very Upper C3. pit flatfill bottomed of Upper smallsub-angularoccasional with silt clay brown light soft Very Co-ordi (lower). charcoalC3 flecks. of Fill frequent and stones 97.35E/107.66N. - B 97.8E/108.65N; - A nates: charcoaloccasional with silt clay brown pinkish light Firm pit. irregularfill(0.08m) shallow of flecks.lower the Thisis 99.74E/115.0N; - A Co-ordinates: natural feature. a likely Most 99.67E/114.0N. - B C3. pit fillwithin of C7 deposit Small clay. sandy white light Soft 97.35E/107.66N. - B 97.8E/108.65N, - A Co-ordinates: relatively are fills.sides seven The containing Oval/irregularpit read From base. irregularan with concave smooth and steep the actually seeing not but thisfeature, to relating sheets the ing of number irregulara is with it as bole root a be may it feature, stakehole a as suggested One depressions. of couple a and lenses - A Co-ordinates: action. root of result a thismaybe C14, filledby 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; Short Description Short 2 2 2 8 9 3 4 7 2 Strat below Strat 1 7 8 1 1 9 5 6 18 Strat above Strat 9 7, 6, 8 5, 15, 14, 13, 18, 17, 16, 19 Filled with Filled 4 3 3 4 3 Fill of Fill Stratigraphic Index Stratigraphic

Topsoil Natural Cut Cut Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Cut Context Type Context 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Context # Context Appendix 1 Appendix

31 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.25 x 1.05 x 1.3 0.25 x 0.4 x 0.6 0.06 x 0.45 x 0.5 0.14 X 0.4 X ? 0.1 X 0.2 X ? 0.08 X 0.3 X ? 0.02 x 0.11 X ? 0.07 X 0.12 X ? 0.23 x 0.1 X ? - - - regular base. This pit appears natural, however a possible posthole posthole possible a however natural, appears regularThispit base. fillssmall charcoal The flecks, contain S. the towards located is Co-ordi structure. natural in stillappears feature the however 99.75E/115.49N. 99.36E/116.55N; - A nates: A large irregular shaped shallow pit with concave sides and an iran and sides concave with pit shallow irregular large shaped A flecks moderate with clay silty brown yellow light Compact possible the fill charcoal.the Thiswas of of smallpieces and - A Co-ordinates: C11. pt of edge S the at situated posthole 99.75E/115.49N. 99.36E/116.55N; smallcharcoal pieces. frequent with clay black dark soft Very - A Co-ordinates: C10. irregularfill pit of uppermost the Thisis 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; charcoal frequent with silt clayey brown pinkish mid soft Very at smallstakehole a be flecks. to fillingThiswas appeared what Co-ordi action. root alsobe may It C10. cut larger the of W the flecksoccasional charcoal. with of clay sandy yellow mid Soft 98.95E/108.8N; - A Co-ordinates: C10. fillspit seven of of One 98.76E/107.65N. - B charcoal flecks. moderate with silt clayey brown yellow mid Soft - A Co-ordinates: C10. bole) (tree fillspit seven of of One 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; thin charcoal.A No clay. sandy white yellowish light Firm - A Co-ordinates: C10. fills pit seven in of making one lens 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; - A Co-ordinates: C10. basal pit fill of clay, sandy white light Firm 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; Thisfill is C10. fill side/basal of clay, sandy yellow light Firm fill suggestingthe slumped cut, the of edge N the along situated fillThis opened. was cut afterthe soon possibly side, the from in soil original the be may and material organic any from sterile is natural soil loosened the where cavity or pit, the from extracted 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; - A Co-ordinates: re-filled. Short Description Short 98.76E/107.65N. - B 98.95E/108.8N; - A nates: 2 11 15 19 16, 17 18 14 10 18 Strat below Strat 12 20 1 17 13 14 15 19 16, 14 Strat above Strat 12, 20 12, Filled with Filled 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Fill of Fill Cut Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Context Type Context 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Context # Context

32 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.08 x 0.5 x 0.7 0.14 x 0.6 x 0.6 0.14 x 0.59 x 0.57 0.03 x 0.25 x 0.28 0.16 x 0.4 x 0.6 0.16 x 0.4 x 0.6 0.08 x 0.4 x 0.6 0.21 x 0.56 x 0.56 - - cave sides and a concave base. The break of slope on top is top on slope of break The base. concave a and sides cave B 90.85E/115.30N; - A Co-ordinates: smallpit. a Thisis sharp. 90.68E/114.59N. - Firm mid brown silty clay with moderate smallsub-angular moderate with clay silty brown mid Firm smallcharcoal and flecks. smallpieces occasional This and stones would Thisfeature natural soils. and topsoil fill mixed a of is - A Co-ordinates: natural depression. a natural origin, a of be 99.75E/115.49N. - B 99.36E/116.55N; All base. sub-circular sides a with circularfeature shallow A the to due modern be may Thisfeature sloped. moderately were relation clear no is fill There C22. upper the in found wire barbed 92.86E/116.95N; - A Co-ordinates: features. other the between 92.85E/116.23N. - B smallcharcoaloccasional with clay sand brown mid Loose feature modern likely most a fill of upper the Thisis pieces. of thisfill. within Thisfill one found is wire barbed the to due B 92.86E/116.95N; - A mainfill. the Co-ordinates: is but two, 92.85E/116.23N. - sub-angularcoarse occasional with clay silty black dark Firm flecks charcoal.and smallof pieces frequent contained It pebbles. Co- heat-affected. were pebbles The basal C21. fillthe Thisis of 92.85E/116.23N. - B 92.86E/116.95N; - A ordinates: moderately and corners rounded with feature shallow Ovalshaped point. blunt tapered a with oval was base The sides. concave sloped charcoal. fill moderate with fills,two lower the contained Thiscut it thisfeature, of irregular nature slightly and shallow the to Due material. backfilledsurrounding by natural depression a be may 102.15E/117.78N. - B 102.10E/116.79N; - A Co-ordinates: fill/ next boundary to clear a with clay silty brown mid Firm similarto appears and C24 pit fill of upper the Thisis layer. B 102.10E/116.79N; - A Co-ordinates: subsoil. surrounding the 102.15E/117.78N. - flecks and smallpieces moderate with clay silty brown dark Firm Thisfill is C24. feature basal oval fillthe charcoal.Thisis of of char of % high relatively hasa just fill C25, upper the similarto 102.15E/117.78N. - B 102.10E/116.79N; - A Co-ordinates: coal. con sloped moderately with plan circularin is Thisfeature Short Description Short 12 2 23 2 2 26 24 2 Strat below Strat 1 23 1 22 26 1 25 29 Strat above Strat 23 22, 26 25, 29 28, Filled with Filled 11 21 21 24 24 Fill of Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Context Type Context 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Context # Context

33 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.16 x 0.56 x 0.56 0.05 x 0.5 x 0.5 0.3 x 1.5 x 2.8 0.3 x 1.5 x 2.8 0.18 x 0.3 x 0.46 0.18 x 0.25 x 0.4 0.18 x 0.25 x 0.4 - - dium sub-angular and sub-rounded pebbles. Moderate medium medium Moderate pebbles. sub-angular sub-rounded dium and alsowithin were stones smallsub-angular and sub-rounded and flecks charcoal.and smallof pieces moderate contained fill. the It 90.68E/114.59N. - B 90.85E/115.30N; - A Co-ordinates: Compact mid grey brown silty sand with moderate coarse and me and coarse moderate with sand silty brown grey mid Compact sub-angular sub- and moderate with silt sandy black dark Soft alsocontained It basal C27. fillthe Thisis of pebbles. rounded A Co-ordinates: charcoalthin flecks.lens. very a Thisis frequent 90.68E/114.59N. - B 90.85E/115.30N; - VOID sides concave steep to gentle with Anfeature irregular shaped irregularity and nature The base. point irregularan and blunt - A Co-ordinates: bole. root a is it suggest would thisfeature of 100.34E/119.10N. - B 100.68E/116.34N; smallcharcoal moderate with clay silty brown orange light Firm charcoaloccasional flecks. and the Thisfill pieces similarto is charcoalthan content. the other natural subsoil surrounding - A Co-ordinates: bole. tree a fill the of likely most Thisis 100.34E/119.10N. - B 100.68E/116.34N; VOID an and sides sloping gentle with sub-rectangular feature a Thisis being it to due naturalirregular depression a flat Thismaybe base. charcoalhasoccasional flecks. fill The Co-ordi C41 shallow. so 100.86E/106.52N. - B 100.29E/105.87N; - A nates: sub-circular a and sides smooth steep with feature sub-circular A - A Co-ordinates: posthole. a possibly Thisis base. concave 97.51E/120.15N. - B 97.14E/120.13N; smallpieces occasional with clay silty brown yellow mid Firm fill charcoal flecks. single a Thisis moderate charcoal and of two to proximity close in is Thisfeature posthole. possible a of - similarA fills. with Co-ordinates: C37 and C39 features other 97.51E/120.15N. - B 97.14E/120.13N; Short Description Short 29 27 2 31 2 2 35 Strat below Strat 1 28 32 1 41 36 1 Strat above Strat 32 41 36 Filled with Filled 27 27 31 35 Fill of Fill Fill Fill Cut Fill Cut Cut Fill Context Type Context 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Context # Context

34 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.08 x 0.2 x 0.24 0.08 x 0.2 x 0.24 0.24 x 1.1 x 1.4 0.24 x 1.1 x 1.4 0.18 x 0.64 x 0.36 0.18 x 0.4 x 0.44 0.1 x 0.32 x 0.40 0.16 X 0.24 X ? - - nates: A - 100.29E/105.87N; B - 100.86E/106.52N. - B 100.29E/105.87N; - A nates: A sub-circular feature with mainly vertical smooth sides and sides mainlyverticalsmooth with feature sub-circular A posthole, a of base the be flatsub-circular Thismay a base. edge SW the at situated is It C39. by truncated hasbeen which B 97.46E/120.08N; - A Co-ordinates: C39. feature large of 97.82E/120.02. - smallcharcoaloccasional with clay silty brown yellow mid Firm posthole charcoal flecks.possible fill of Single moderate and pieces Co- 0.08m. only at shallow very is it as one of remains or C37, 97.82E/120.02. - B 97.46E/120.08N; - A ordinates: sides sloping and steep both with Anfeature irregular shaped possible hasthe Thisfeature base. irregularan and concave - A Co-ordinates: edge. WSW its at C37 posthole a of remains 98.89E/119.86N. - B 97.61E/120.18N; sub-angularoccasional with clay silty brown yellow mid Firm and smallcharcoal pieces moderate alsocontained It stones. C39. feature fill charcoaloccasional flecks.single of the Thisis 98.89E/119.86N. - B 97.61E/120.18N; - A Co-ordinates: smallcharcoaloccasional with clay sandy brown mid soft Very smallshallow a fill charcoal flecks.and single of a pieces Thisis source another from residue Thisfillbe may sub-rectangularpit. Co-ordi natural depression. possibly shallow, a into ploughed with pit shallow steep-sided mostly sub-rectangular, a Thisis fillstwo and C43 contained Thispit base. irregularan concave fill The C43. upper the charcoal C44.Occasional flecksin found natural a be may basalnatural almost suggestingfill,it is C44, C34. feature Similarto soil. filledcontaminated with depression 98.74E/107.58N. - B 98.25E/106.84N; - A Co-ordinates: charcoaloccasional with clay sandy red pinkish mid Soft - A C42.Co-ordinates: flecks.pit secondaryfill the of Thisis 98.74E/107.58N. - B 98.25E/106.84N; the charcoal.Thisis No clay. sandy brown yellow mid soft Very sur the C42.Thisfill similar to very is pit basal shallow fill of feature with as thismay, suggesting that natural soil, rounding Co- soil. contaminated filled by natural depression a be C34, 98.74E/107.58N. - B 98.25E/106.84N; - A ordinates: Short Description Short 40 37 2 39 34 2 44 42 Strat below Strat 38 1 40 37 1 44 1 43 Strat above Strat 38 40 44 43, Filled with Filled 37 39 34 42 42 Fill of Fill Cut Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Context Type Context 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 Context # Context

35 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.2 x 0.84 x 19.88 0.2 x 0.84 x 19.88 0.14 x 0.42 x 0.86 0.14 x 0.42 x 0.86 0.1 x 0.3 x 0.48 0.08 x 0.3 x 0.6 0.08 x 0.2 x 0.38 0.08 x 0.3 x 0.36 0.08 x 0.4 x 0.7 0.08 x 0.37 x 0.4 0.1 x 0.74 x 0.85 - - - - ed pebbles and occasional charcoal flecks. This appear to be a charcoalbe occasional flecks. and to Thisappear pebbles ed natural depression. a fill of contaminated a charcoalbe occasional flecks. and to Thisappear pebbles ed natural depression. a fill of contaminated This is linear in plan, the SE side gently sloping with a stepped stepped a with sloping gently side SE the plan, in linear Thisis shape. smooth a with sloped moderately is NW side the shape; drainage a flat.be sub-rectangular and is Thismay base The - A fill. C46,see Co-ordinates: up, silted hasbeen which ditch 94.00E/128.00N. - B 95.00E/127.38N; finesub- moderate with sand clayey brown yellow mid soft Very drainage up silted fill, possibly Organically sterile angular pebbles. 94.00E/128.00N. - B 95.00E/127.38N; - A Co-ordinates: ditch. concave sloped moderately with feature cornered Irregularround like most was Thisfeature base. irregularan had concave It sides. 100.38E/121.30N; - A Co-ordinates: natural depression. a be to ly 101.12E/120.42N. - B Thisfill organicallysand. is clayey brown grey mid Compact rede subsoil/topsoil of form a be to appear would and sterile - A Co-ordinates: naturally occurringdepression. a in posited 101.12E/120.42N. - B 100.38E/121.30N; sides smooth sloping gently with feature shallow circular/oval A natural a be to likely most Thisis base. circularconcave a and depression. flat a base. and sides sloping gentle smooth, with plan Oval in natural depression. a be to likely most Thisis circularflat a and sides sloping gentle smooth, with plan Oval in natural depression. a be to likely most Thisis base. finesub-round occasional with sand clayey brown dark Compact finesub- occasional with sand clayey brown yellow mid Compact charcoaloccasional flecks. and to Thisappears pebbles rounded natural depression. a fill of contaminated a be finesub-round occasional with sand clayey brown dark Compact with sides concave gentle and steep both with pit shallow An oval pottery of number large the With base. concave slightly oval an analysis Soil pit. cremation truncated heavily a be thismay sherds discovered. is residue bone/seed/food if interpretation our will aid Short Description Short 2 45 47 2 2 2 49 50 51 2 Strat below Strat 46 1 1 1 52 53 54 1 1 1 56 Strat above Strat 46 48 52 53 54 56 Filled with Filled 45 47 49 50 51 Fill of Fill Cut Fill Cut Fill Cut Cut Cut Fill Fill Fill Cut Context Type Context 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Context # Context

36 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.1 x 0.74 x 0.85 0.08 x 0.64 x 0.86 0.03 x 0.64 x 0.86 0.07 x 0.22 x 0.26 0.18 x 0.52 x 0.9 0.17 x 0.27 x 0.4 0.2 x 0.54 x 0.8 0.34 x 0.78 x 0.9 0.06 x 0.17 x 0.26 0.18 x 0.45 x 0.6 0.3 x 0.5 x 0.6 0.18 x 0.94 x 1.34 - - - Firm mid grey black sandy clay with moderate smallangular moderate with clay sandy black grey mid Firm smallto rangingcharcoalfrom flecks/pieces frequent and stones analysiswith will aid Soil sherds. pottery Also many medium. other or seed bone, possible produce hopefully and interpretation residues. an and sides sloping gently smooth, with plan in Irregular/oval large but shallow, very a Thisis base. irregularpointed flat/tapered in found was pottery as truncated, heavily hasbeen which feature basal fillthe C58. smallanoccasional with sand clayey grey brown mid Compact was sherd charcoal pottery flecks. One moderate and gularstones thisfill. in identified charcoal medium moderate with sand clayey black dark Compact fill. upper The C57. fillstwo pit in of one Thisis pieces. con sloped steep to moderately with pit shallow Irregularplan in smallangularoccasional with sand silty black mid Compact irregularlarge pit. a within two fill of upper the Thiswas stones. smallangularoccasional with clay sandy orange reddish mid Firm pit. Basal shallow irregular fill shaped of stones. base. circularconcave a and sides concave steep with plan Oval in fills.three contained Thispit smallangularoccasional with clay sandy silty grey mid Compact fill upper the Thisis charcoal pieces. medium frequent and stones C63. pit of smallangularoccasional with clay sandy brown yellow mid Firm C63. secondaryfill a pit in Thisis stones. me smalland occasional with clay sandy grey brown mid Firm large and medium frequent alsocontained It angular dium stones. primary C63. fillthe Thisis of charcoalpieces. flata oval Thisis an base. with sides sloping gentle smooth Oval, smallfeatures. other near situated feature shallow very Short Description Short two be may Thisfeature base. irregularan and concave sides cave pits. conjoined 55 2 57 58 62 60 2 65 66 63 2 Strat below Strat 1 58 59 1 62 1 61 66 1 64 65 69 Strat above Strat 59 58, 62 61, 66 65, 64, 69 68, Filled with Filled 55 57 57 60 60 63 63 63 Fill of Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Fill Cut Context Type Context 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 Context # Context

37 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.18 x 0.85 x 1.0 0.16 X ? x 0.18 0.2 x 0.6 x 0.8 0.23 x 0.54 x 0.64 0.08 x 0.6 x 0.8 0.12 X 0.58 X ? 0.14 x 0.54 x 0.63 0.58 X 0.76 X 1.21 0.45 x 1.5 x 20.0 0.45 x 1.5 x 20.0 0.3 x 1.6 x 17.0 0.22 x 0.48 x 0.66 ------sional charcoal flecks. sional Compact dark reddish brown clayey sand with moderate medium medium moderate with sand clayey brown reddish dark Compact charcoalof flecks. thinlens A moderate and sub-angularpebbles thisfill.within charcoal lies medium occasional with sand clayey yellow brown mid Compact charcoaloccasional flecks. smalland a sub-angularThisis pebbles surround the Thisfill similarto feature. is the of side E fillthe at fills. other by contaminated got have may natural and ing VOID iran and sides sloping gentle with feature shallow plan Oval in fills.two regularflat Thiscontained base. iran and sides smooth steep, with pit Sub-rectangularshallow regularflat base. coarseoccasional with sand clayey black brown dark Compact charcoal flecks.second the Thisis frequent and angularpebbles, aryfillstwofill C71. withinof smalloccasional with clay sandy brown yellow mid soft Very also It sub-angularcoarse stones. frequent and sub-angularstones charcoal flecks. moderate contains and coarse frequent with sand clayey brown greyish dark Compact occa alsocontains It sub-angular pebbles. medium occasional flatsub-circular a with feature sided sloped steep Ovalsmooth base. concave a and sides concave sloping moderate with feature Linear base. coarse moderate with clay silty grey brownish mid Compact Alsosmall, occasional pebbles. sub-angularsub-rounded and modern fill of Upper smallstones. sub-angularsub-rounded and boundaryditch. VOID concave a and sides concave sloping gently with feature Linear situ are They C77. running parallelis to feature Thislinear base. flat a and sides sloped moderately smooth with pit Oval shallow base. Short Description Short apart. 1.84m ated 69 67 2 2 74 71 72 2 2 96 2 2 Strat below Strat 1 68 74 75 1 73 1 94 100 95, 1 84 83 Strat above Strat 74 73, 75 94 93, 96 95, 78, 84 83 82, Filled with Filled 67 67 107 71, 71 72 77 Fill of Fill Fill Fill Cut Cut Fill Fill Fill Cut Cut Fill Cut Cut Context Type Context 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 Context # Context

38 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.22 x 0.48 x 0.66 0.14 X 0.5 X ? 0.3 x 1.6 x 17.0 0.12 x 0.4 x 0.5 0.05 x 0.4 x 0.5 0.07 x 0.35 x 0.4 0.27 x 2.0 x 2.6 0.17 x 0.3 x 0.38 0.17 x 0.32 x 0.42 0.58 x 0.7 x 1.13 - - - cave base. This pit has only one fill C92. This may be a natural a be fill Thismay C92. one hasonly Thispit base. cave hollow/depression. Very soft dark brown clayey silt with occasional smallsub-angularoccasional with silt clayey brown dark soft Very charcoaloccasional flecks. and stones sub- coarse occasional with clay sandy brown yellow mid soft Very also It smallsub-angularoccasional and stones. angular pebbles twofill of charcoaloccasional flecks. lower the contained Thisis thisfeature. within coarse moderate with sand silty grey brownish mid Compact boundaryfill the of Thisis pebbles. sub-angularsub-rounded and C80. ditch VOID and sides concave sloping gently with feature shallow Sub-circular base. concave a sized medium occasional with sand silty brown dark Compact charcoaloccasional flecks. and the sub-angularThisis pebbles C86. pit within two fill of lower medium occasional with sand clayey brown yellow mid Compact smallcharcoal and pieces. pebbles sub-angularsub-rounded and irregularan and irregular sides sloped gently with Irregularplan in base. concave VOID sub-rectangular con a with sided, smooth sloped, gently Circular sub-an medium moderate with sand clayey brown mid Compact fill charcoaloccasional flecks. single and the Thisis gular pebbles fill withincontaminated a be Thismay C91. smallpit shallow a of natural hollow. possible a me occasional contained It clay. sandy stony brown dark soft Very Short Description Short sub-rounded coarse frequent and sub-angular sized stones dium charcoaloccasional flecks. alsohad upper the Thiswas It pebbles. C76. pit fill of 83 81 80 2 88 86 2 2 91 94 Strat below Strat 1 82 1 88 1 87 99 92 1 1 Strat above Strat 88 87, 99 92 Filled with Filled 81 81 80 86 86 91 76 Fill of Fill Fill Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Cut Cut Fill Fill Context Type Context 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Context # Context

39 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report Dimensions (m) (m) Dimensions 0.3 x 0.25 X ? 0.21 x 1.28 X ? 0.04 x 1.6 X ? 0.18 x 0.5 x 0.5 0.18 x 0.5 x 0.5 0.27 x 2.0 x 2.6 0.2 x 1.04 X ? 0.19 x 0.5 x 0.54 0.19 x 0.5 x 0.54 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.2 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.2 0.14 x 1.00 x 1.10 0.4 X 0.4 x 0.5 0.14 x 1.00 x 1.10 - - Very soft mid grey sandy clay with occasional medium sized sub- sized medium occasional with clay sandy grey mid soft Very C76. cut of base the Thisfill areastwoangular at in was stones. water- be may areas.twoThisclay the separating was C93 Fill Dimen hole. verticaldeep a such of base the at silting or logged parts.two to refer given sions medium occasional with sand clayey brown yellow light Compact in basal layer the Thisis stones. sub-angularsub-rounded and C75. feature linear sand. silty black greyish dark Compact circular a and sides concave sloping gently with feature Circular naturalfeature. A bole. root a partof possibly is This base. concave small angularoccasional with stones. clay sandy grey mid Firm natural. - hole root likely most a fill the of Thisis Fill smallangular stones. moderate with clay sandy grey mid Firm hole? root possible of the fill the of Thisis sand. clayey yellow orange light Compact boundary C77. field modern circular a and sides concave sloping moderate with pit Circular action. root Possible base. concave action. root Possible clay. sandy grey mid Firm circularconcave a and sides concave sloping gently with Circular action. root Possible base. clay. sandy grey mid Firm coarse moderate with sand clayey yellow reddish mid Compact C71. feature natural. Near Possible angularpebbles. charcoal flecks. frequent with clay sandy grey light Compact C71 from Originally fill C.73. underneath lying at deposit Small con See section. in long very not and shallow very is deposit the details.drawing for C105 sheet text C72. with connected spread under circularpit Small Short Description Short 76 77 100 95, 99 97 89 77 2 101 2 103 107 2 2 Strat below Strat 93 96 78 98 1 97 96 102 1 104 1 73 73 105 Strat above Strat 98 102 104 105 73, Filled with Filled 76 77 77 97 89 77 101 103 107 Fill of Fill Fill Fill Fill Cut Fill Fill Fill Cut Fill Cut Fill Fill Spread Cut Context Type Context 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 Context # Context

40 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ Appendix 2 Site matrix

41 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

42 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups

Group 1 Natural Deposits This group describes the natural geological deposits identified across both areas of excavation.

Subgroup {1001} Topsoil List of Contexts; C.1 Description This subgroup describes the topsoil covering the archaeological features in Areas 1 and 2. For both areas it was a loose dark brown silty clay.

Subgroup {1002} Subsoil List of Contexts; C.2 Description This subgroup describes the natural subsoil that formed across Areas 1 and 2. For both areas it was a compact reddish orange sandy clay.

Group 2 Cremation Pits This group describes the cremation pits and associated features observed in Area 2.

Subgroup {2001} Cremation Pits List of Contexts; C. [55], 56, [86], 87, 88 Description Two cremation pits were located in Area 2. Pit [55] measured 0.85 m in length, 0.74 m in width and 0.1 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and sides varied from gentle to steep in gradient. It was filled by a firm mid greyish black sand clay (56). Frequent small pieces of charcoal and burnt bone were recovered from this fill. Thirty-six sherds of prehistoric pottery were also recovered from this fill. Pit [86] was located 8.5 m to the west of pit [55]. It measured 0.5 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.12 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape, concave in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid yellowish brown clayey sand (88) and the secondary fill was a compact dark brown silty sand (87). Occasional charcoal pieces were recovered from both fills. 22 sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from the primary fill of this feature.

Interpretation These two pits represent the remains of two heavily truncated cremations. This indicated by the evidence of burning, burnt bone and the abundance of pottery sherds within the

43 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

primary fills of both of these pits. The pottery appears to be prehistoric in date giving an approximate date for these features. These features appear to be have been heavily truncated, probably by later agricultural activities e.g. ploughing.

Subgroup {2002} Associated Pits List of Contexts; C. [57], 58, 59, [60], 61, 62, [63], 64, 65, 66 Description Three associated features were located in close proximity to cremation pit [55]. Pit [57] was located 1.7 m north of pit [55]. It measured 0.86 m in length, 0.64 m in width and 0.08 m in depth. It was oval on shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid brownish grey clayey sand (58) and the secondary fill was a compact dark black clayey sand (59). Moderate amounts of flecks and small pieces of charcoal were observed in both fills. A sherd of prehistoric pottery was recovered from the primary fill of this feature. Pit [60] was located 0.5 m to the east of pit [55]. It measured 0.9 m in length, 0.52 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and sides varied from moderate to steep in gradient. The primary fill was a firm mid reddish orange sandy clay (62) and the secondary fill was a compact mid black silty sand (61). Pit [63] was located 1.6 m to the east of pit [55]. It measured 0.9 m in length, 0.78 m in width and 0.34 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a firm mid brownish grey sandy clay (66) with frequent medium and large pieces of charcoal inclusions. The secondary fill was a firm mid -yel lowish brown sandy clay (65) and the final fill was a compact mid grey silty clay (64) with frequent medium pieces of charcoal inclusions.

Interpretation The three features were located in close proximity to, and probably had a close relationship with, cremation pit [55]. Pit [57] contained a sherd of prehistoric pottery relating it directly with the finds from cremation [55] but for what function is unknown. Pit [63] contained three fills, two of which had concentrated charcoal deposits within them. This may have been a dump of burnt material (waste) resulting from the burning of the human remains. Pit [60] appeared to have evidence of in-situ burning within its primary fill. This pit may have provided an alternative method of cremating the human remains that a pyre.

Group 3 Postholes This group describes two postholes located in the centre of Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [35], 36, [37], 38 Description Two postholes were located in the centre of Area 1. Posthole [35] measured 0.4 m in length, 0.25 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled

44 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (36) with occasional small pieces and moderate flecks of charcoal inclusions. Posthole [37] was located 0.14 m east of posthole [35]. It measured 0.24 m in length, 0.2 m in width and 0.08 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape with a flat base and vertical sides. It was filled by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (38) with occasional small pieces and moderate flecks of charcoal inclusions. It was truncated by large pit [39].

Interpretation These two postholes represent the only structural elements that have survived on this site. The charcoal inclusions within the fills of these post-holes suggest they had a close relationship with the burning activity took place in this area. They may represent the remains of a burial pyre, possibly used to cremate human remains before they were placed in the cremation burials described in group 2. This is supported by the fact that the postholes were fairly small in size and probably could not support anything substantial in size.

Group 4 Pits This group describes sixteen pits excavated across Areas 1 and 2.

Subgroup {4001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [3], 6, 7, 9, [10], 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, [11], 12, 20, [21], 22, 23, [24], 25, 26, [27], 28, 29, [34], 41, [39], 40, [42], 43, 44. Description Nine pits were located across Area 1.

Four pits were located to the south of Area 1. Pit [3] measured 0.9 m in length, 0.54 m in width and 0.4 m in depth. It was oval in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by three deposits. The primary deposit was a very soft light brown clayey silt (7), the secondary deposit was a soft white sandy clay (9) and the final deposit was a very soft dark black silt (6). Frequent charcoal flecks inclusions were observed in fills (6) and (7). Pit [10] was located 0.7 m to the east. It measured 1.1 m in length, 0.6 m in width ad 0.4 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by seven deposits. They varied in colour from light yellowish white to dark black and varied in composition from sandy clay to clayey silt. Frequent flecks of charcoal were observed from four of the seven fills. Pit [34] was located 1.9 m south-east of pit [10]. It measured 0.46 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by a very soft mid brown sandy clay (41) with occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal inclusions. Pit [42] was located 0.55 m south of pit [10]. It measured 0.44 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape, concave in profile and shad

45 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay (44) and the secondary fill was a soft mid pinkish red sandy clay (43). This fill contained occasional charcoal fleck inclusions.

Three pits were located in the centre of Area 1. Pit [11] measured 1.3 m in length, 1.05 m in width and 0.25 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact light yellowish brown silty clay (12) and the secondary deposit was a firm mid brown silty clay (20). Occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal were recovered from both fills. Pit [24] was located 1.88 m to the north-east. It measured 0.6 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.16 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sloping sides. The primary fill was a firm dark brown silty clay (26) and the secondary deposit was a firm mid brown silty clay (25). Moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal were recovered from fill (26). Pit [39] was located 2.95 m north of pit [11]. It measured 1.4 m in length, 1.1 m in width and 0.24 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (40) with occasional flecks and moderate amounts of small pieces of charcoal inclusions. This pit truncated earlier posthole [37] as described in group 3.

Two pits were located to the west of Area 1 Pit [21] measured 0.6 m in diameter and 0.14 m in depth. It was circular in shape and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a firm dark black silty clay (23). Frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal and burnt stone were observed within this fill. The secondary fill was a loose mid brown sandy clay (22) with occasional small charcoal pieces. A piece of barbed wire was recovered from the secondary fill. Pit [27] was located 2.1 m south-west of pit [21]. It measured 0.56 m in diameter and 0.21 m in depth. It was circular in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a soft dark black sandy silt (29) and the secondary fill was a compact mid greyish brown silty sand (28). Moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal were observed within these fills.

Interpretation The fills of all nine of these pits contained charcoal. This suggests that these pits had a strong relationship to the burning activity that occurred in this area, possibly in association with the burning and burial of human remains. We can assume that some of these pits post date the burial activity as pit [39] truncated posthole [37]. However, without further information the exact function of these pits is difficult determine. These features may have been backfilled recently, possibly to level the ground surface for agricultural purposes. This can be seen by the barbed wire found within pit [21].

46 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Subgroup {4002} Area 2 List of Contexts; C.[67], 68, 69, [71], 73, 74, [72], 75, [76], 93, 94, [81], 82, 83, [91], 92, [107], 105, 106. Description Seven pits were located across Area 2.

Five pits were located in the centre of Area 2. Pit [67] measured 1.34 m in length, 0.94 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid brownish yellow clayey sand (69) and the secondary fill was a compact dark reddish brown clayey sand (68). Moderate charcoal flecks were observed within both fills. Pit [71] was located 0.48 m to the south-west. It measured 0.8 m in length, 0.6 m in width and 0.2 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a very soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay (74). Pit [105] was located just to the north of pit [71]. It was circular in shape and measured 1.1 m in length, 1 m in width and 0.14 min depth. The primary fill was a compact mid reddish yellow clayey sand (105). The secondary fill of both of these pits was a compact dark brownish black clayey sand (73) with occasional charcoal fleck inclusions. Fill (73) also overlay spread (106), a compact light grey clay with frequent charcoal flecks. Pit [72] was located 0.7 m south of pit [67]. It measured 0.64 m in length, 0.54 m in width and 0.23 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape, flat in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by a compact dark greyish brown clayey sand (75) with occasional charcoal flecks inclusions. Pit [81] was located 1.5 m south-east of pit [72]. It measured 0.66 m in length, 0.48 m in width and 0.22 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a very soft mid yellowish brown clay (83) and the secondary fill was a soft dark brown clayey silt (82). Both fills contained occasional charcoal flecks. Pit [76] was located to the south of Area 2. It measured 1.21 m in length, 0.76 m in width and 0.58 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a mid grey sandy clay (94) and the secondary fill was a soft dark brown stony clay (93). Occasional flecks of charcoal inclusions were observed within the secondary fill. Pit [91] was located between field boundaries [77] and [80] as described in group 5. It measured 0.38 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 0.17 m in depth. It was circular in shape, concave in profile and had gently sloping sides. It was filled by a compact mid brown clayey sand (92) with occasional flecks of charcoal inclusions.

Interpretation All seven pits found in Area 2 contained charcoal within their fills. This may link these pits to the high concentration of burning activity occurring within this area, possibly

47 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

associated with the cremation and burial of human remains. However, without further information their exact function is difficult to determine.

Group 5 Linear Features This group describes the single linear feature in Area 1 and the two linear features in Area 2

Subgroup {5001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [45], 46 Description A single linear feature was uncovered in Area 1. It was orientated north to south and measured 0.84 in width and 0.2 in depth. It was linear in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping and stepped sides. It was filled by a very soft mid yellowish brown clayey sand (46).

Interpretation This linear feature represents a drainage ditch in order to drain the easily waterlogged field in which Area 1 was located. The sterile nature of the fills suggests this feature naturally silted up after the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This indicated that this feature post dated the burials on this site, possibly represented a modern agricultural ditch.

Subgroup {5002} Area 2 List of Contexts; C. [77], 78, 95, 96, 100, [80], 84. Description Two parallel linear features were discovered in Area 2. Linear [77] was orientated north to south and measured 1.5 in width and 0.45 in depth. It was linear in shape with a concave profile and moderately steep sloping sides. Its primary fills were a compact light yellowish brown clayey sand (95) and a compact light orangish yellow clayey sand (100). These fills were overlain by the secondary deposit, a compact dark greyish black silty sand (96). The final fill was a compact mid brownish grey silty clay (78). Linear [80] was located 1.95 m to the west. It was orientated north to south and measured 1.6 m in width and 0.3 in depth. It was linear in shape with a concave profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by compact mid brownish grey silty sand (84).

Interpretation These two liner features represent two parallel field boundaries. These may have been -con temporary in nature but were more likely an initial boundary that was later replaced. The sterile nature of the fills suggests that the boundaries naturally silted up over time after

48 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/ the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This suggests that they are later in date than the burials and possibly represent modern agricultural activity.

Group 6 Natural Features This group describes ten natural features located both in Areas 1 and 2.

Subgroup {6001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [4], 5, 8, [31], 32, [47], 48, [49], 52, [50], 53, [51], 54. Description

Context No Dimensions (m) 4 0.7 x 0.5 x 0.08 31 2.8 x 1.5 x 0.3 47 0.86 x 0.42 x 0.14 49 0.48 x 0.3 x 0.1 50 0.6 x 0.3 x 0.08 51 0.38 x 0.2 x 0.08

Table1: Dimensions of natural features in Area 1 These six features varied greatly in length, width and depth, as seen in the table above. They were generally oval or irregular in shape and the sides were gentle to steep in gradient. The fills of these features varied in colour from light orangish brown to dark black and were in general clayey sand in composition. Charcoal inclusions were present in the fills of five of these features.

Subgroup {6002} Area 2 List of Contexts; C. [89], 99, [97], 98, [101], 102, [103], 104. Description

Context No Dimensions (m)

89 2.6 x 2.0 x 0.27 97 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.18 101 0.54 x 0.5 x 0.19 103 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.1

Table 2 Dimensions of natural features in Area 2 These four features varied greatly in length, width and depth, as seen in the table above. They were generally irregular or circular in shape and had gently sloping sides. The fills of these features were in general mid grey in colour and sandy clay in composition.

49 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Group Interpretation The irregularity in shape, the lack of depth and sterile fills of these features suggests that they are natural in origin, possibly vegetation bowls. The charcoal inclusions within their fills are most likely the result of contamination by surrounding burning activity.

50 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Appendix 4 Finds register Context NMI Area Category Fabric Artefact Type Short Description/Comments rt # Find Description/Comments # 56 1 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 2 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 3 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 4 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 5 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 6 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 7 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 8 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 9 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 10 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 11 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 12 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved motif 56 13 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 14 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 15 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 16 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 17 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 18 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 19 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 20 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 21 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 22 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 23 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 24 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 25 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 26 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 27 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 28 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 29 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 30 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 31 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 32 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 33 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 34 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 35 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 36 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 37 2 Ceramic Pottery Basal Sherd 56 38 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 39 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 40 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 41 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 42 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 56 43 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 44 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 45 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 46 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds x4 small fragments 56 47 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Crumbs x5

51 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

56 48 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd originally 2 fragments 56 49 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 50 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 51 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 52 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd (originally 3 fragments) Deco- rated - carved lines 56 53 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 54 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 55 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 56 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 57 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 56 58 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines 87 1 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 2 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 3 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 4 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 5 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 6 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 7 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 8 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 9 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds x6 small fragments

52 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Appendix 5 Plant remains

Introduction This report presents the results of plant remains analysis from Ballynamona 1. The site comprised a series of pits, including two possible cremation pits. Artefacts included Grooved Ware and Vase urns, indicating activity dating to the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. The plant remains were all identified as hazelnut shell fragments.

Methodology The samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-as- sisted floatation (following guidelines in Pearsall 2000). The floating material (or ‘flot’) from each sample was collected in a stack of geological sieves (the smallest mesh size was 250mm). When all the carbonised material was collected the flot was then air-dried in paper-lined drying trays prior to storage in airtight plastic bags. The samples were scanned under low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. Nomen- clature and taxonomic order follows Stace (1997).

Results A total of 24 samples were examined but plant remains were only present in 7 of the samples. The plant remains were identified as barley and indeterminate cereal grains and fragments of hazelnut shell.

Sample Context Charcoal Seeds % scanned 2 7 Medium Absent 100 8 12 Low Absent 100 11 13 High Absent 100 12 14 Medium Absent 100 14 16 Low Absent 100 19 32 Medium Absent 100 22 26 Medium Absent 100 24 23 Medium Absent 100 27 36 Medium Low 100 31 43 Low Absent 100 38 56 Medium Absent 100 41 30 High Absent 100 42 61 Low Absent 100 43 62 Low Absent 100 44 64 Low Absent 100 45 65 Low Absent 100 50 69 Low Absent 100 52 56 High Medium 100 53 73 Medium Low 100

53 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

54 74 Low Absent 100 62 87 Low Low 100 63 88 Medium Low 100 68 92 Low Absent 100 70 76/94 Low Low 100 Table 1: Scanned samples from Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork (E2428) Where plant material was found, it was retrieved in moderate quantities. The identified material (presented in Table 2) was predominantly cereal remains, grains in particular, which were primarily barley.

Context 36 53 64 73 87 88 94 Sample 27 73 44 53 62 63 70 Hazelnut shell fragments (Corylus avellana L.) 1 61 4 33 11 6 4 Barley grains (Hordeum vulgare L.) 1 3 4 5 Indeterminate cereal grains 1 4 1 1 Table 2: Plant material in samples from Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork (E2428) Hazelnut shell fragments are ubiquitous finds in Irish archaeobotanical assemblages. Eating hazelnuts creates quite a large amount of waste (Monk 2000, 75) and archaeobota- nists generally agree that a small collection of hazelnut shell fragments is unlikely to be a significant indicator of site diet (e.g. McClatchie 2007, 65). Therefore, the few fragments retrieved from this site are probably relatively unimportant. The archaeological remains suggest that these deposits are Late Neolithic and this site therefore adds to the relatively scant evidence of barley cultivation in Ireland during the Neolithic (Monk 1986, 32). In Britain, Grooved Ware sherds generally have no cereal impressions and therefore settlements associated with Grooved Ware were traditionally associated with pastoral cultures, rather than arable agriculture. This assumption was turned on its head by the systematic flotation of samples associated with Grooved Ware sites: Jones (1980) proved that carbonised grain was regularly found in deposits from this period. In Britain the results demonstrated that cereals from the Late Neolithic included emmer and bread wheat and barley and that hazelnut shells and crab apple pips were also found. Flotation has been carried out at a limited number of Grooved Ware sites in Ireland including Ballynamona 1. The Irish results suggest that barley was probably the most common cereal type (as at Ballynamona 1) and that hazelnut shells and apple pips were also relatively common.

54 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

References Johnston, P. 2007 Analysis of Carbonised Plant Remains, pp. 70 – 79 in Grogan, E., O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.

Jones, M. 1980 ‘Carbonised cereals from Grooved Ware contexts,’ Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 46, 61– 63.

McClatchie, M. 2007 ‘The plant remains,’ in Doody, M. Excavations at Curraghatoor, Co. Tipperary. Cork, UCC Department of Archaeology Archaeological Monograph, 62 – 67.

Monk, M. 2000 ‘Seeds and soils of discontent: an environmental archaeological contribution to the nature of the Early Neolithic,’ 67 – 87 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. (eds) New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Bray, Wordwell.

Pearsall, D. 2000 Paleoethnobotany: a Handbook of Procedures. New York, Academic Press.

Stace, C.A. 1997 New Flora in the British Isles. (2nd edition) Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

55 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

Appendix 6 Pottery report

By Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan

Summary This small assemblage of 81 sherds (weight 1028g) represents a Late Neolithic Grooved Ware vessel and an Early Bronze Age vase urn. Detailed descriptions of the sherds and contexts are presented in the Catalogue, after a general discussion of the assemblages. The excavation number is omitted throughout this report, only the context number (in bold in the Catalogue) followed by the find number is included.

Area 2

The Late Neolithic Grooved Ware Vessel Fifteen sherds of Grooved Ware were found in a possible cremation pit (Context 86), consisting of three base-anglesherds, five bodysherds and seven fragments representing a single barrel-shaped flat-based cordoned vessel. The good quality burnished, thin-walled fabric is slightly weathered and small cavities are present on both surfaces. Decoration is present in the form of a horizontal row of faint, closely spaced comb impressions immediately above the cordon; a row of closely-spaced comb impressions, and sometimes just an incised line, is present around the circumference of the external surface of the base. Cordons are a feature on a small number of Grooved Ware vessels in Ireland, for example, Longstone Cullen, Co. Tipperary (Roche 1995, fig. 49), and decoration is present on the exterior surface of the base of vessels from Longstone, Geroid Island, Lough Gur, Co. Limerick (Roche 1995, figs 44, 48, 27), and Knowth, Co. Meath (Eogan and Roche 1997, 157, fig. 28: V.2 and V.8). However, the presence of comb impressed decoration has not previously been identified on Irish Grooved Ware. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface indicating that they had, at some stage, been used for cooking.

Discussion The Ballynamona 1 site and associated assemblage is one of the latest additions to the growing number of Grooved Ware sites Ireland, dating to c. 2900–2450 BC (Eogan and Roche 1997, 219). Although still not plentiful, it has become more common throughout the country but with a particular concentration in the north-eastern part of the country. The majority of the sites appear to represent ritual activity especially associated with timber circles. The context of the Ballynamona 1 vessel, in a possible cremation pit, is important as such associations are not common. The vessel from Ballynamona 1 can be readily paralleled by material from other Irish sites as close as Longstone Cullen, and as far away as Knowth and Bettystown, Co. Meath, Whitewell, Co. Westmeath, and Ballynahatty, Co. Down (Eogan and Roche 1997, fig. 21; J. Eogan 1999; Phelan 2007;

56 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Hartwell 1998, 32–44), and more recently from timber circles at Balgatheran, Co. Louth (Ó Drisceoil 2003), an enclosure at Balregan, Co. Louth (Grogan and Roche 2005), and a pit at Rathmullan, Co. Meath (Bolger 2002, 8–9). In the immediate area a large assemblage of Grooved Ware came from Ballynacarriga 3 on the Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass scheme.

Early Bronze Age vase urn Sixty six sherds, consisting of 10 rimsherds, 10 shouldersherds, a base-anglesherd, 17 bodysherds and 28 fragments, representing a single vase urn were found in a second possible cremation pit (Context 55). The vessel, with its rounded rim, vertical neck, rounded shoulder and a belly that slopes down to a narrow base is consistent with Brindley’s (2007, 278–79) Stage 2 vase urns. The hard but loose textured fabric with a moderate to high content of inclusions is somewhat weathered. The vase is elaborately decorated. Oblique lines of whipped cord impressions occur on the rim top. The exterior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with vertical and oblique broad incised lines, at the neck/shoulder junction is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. The rounded shoulder has a horizontal row of oblique broad incised lines, below which is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. At the shoulder/belly junction is a horizontal row of short oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The belly of the vessel is decorated with a broad incised lattice pattern. The interior surface of the rim and neck have a herringbone pattern of two rows of oblique and opposing broad incised lines. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface. Vase urns are not common in this region, having a more dominant distribution in the north and northeast. However, an example came from a funerary context at Ballinvoher, Co. Cork (Waddell 1990, 58). Vase urns were in contemporary use with other pottery of the Vase Tradition, such as food vessels and encrusted urns, and research has established a date range of c. 1930/1920–c. 1830 BC for this ceramic type (Brindley 2007, 328).

57 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

References Brindley, A. L. 2007 The Dating of Food Vessels and Urns in Ireland. Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Bolger, T. 2002 Three sites on the M1 Motorway at Rathmullan, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe 13, 8–17.

Eogan, J. 1999 Recent Excavations at Bettystown, Co. Meath. Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists Newsletter 30, 9.

Eogan, G. and Roche, H. 1997 Excavations at Knowth (2). Royal Irish Academy and Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Grogan, E. and Roche, H. 2005 The prehistoric pottery from Balregan 1, Co. Louth (03E0157). Unpublished Report for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.

Hartwell, B. 1998 The Ballynahatty Complex. In A. Gibson and D. Simpson (eds), Prehistoric Ritual and Religion, 32–44. Sutton Publishing Ltd., Gloucestershire.

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2003 Balgatheran Site 4. Late Neolithic ritual/settlement site, Co. Louth. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2001, 255–57. Wordwell, Bray.

Phelan, S. 2007 1903. Whitewell. Grooved Ware timber circle. In E. Grogan, L. O’Donnell and Johnson, P. The Bronze Age landscapes of the Pipeline to the West, 349‒50. Bord Gais/ Wordwell, Bray.

Roche, H. 1995 Style and Context for Grooved Ware in Ireland: with special reference to the assemblage at Knowth, Co. Meath. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Dublin.

Waddell, J. 1990 The Bronze Age Burials of Ireland. Galway University Press.

58 Ballynamona 1-E2428 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

Catalogue The excavation number E2428 is omitted throughout; only the context number followed by the find number is included. Where the pottery is listed in the catalogue the context numbers are in bold: e.g. bodysherds: 87:2–4. Sherd numbers incorporating a forward slash indicates joining sherds, e.g. 888/444. The colour reference refers to the outer surface/core/inner surface, e.g. orange/grey/black. The thickness refers to an average dimension; where relevant a thickness range is indicated. Vessel numbers have been allocated to pottery where some estimation of the form of the pot is possible, or where the detailed evidence of featured sherds (e.g. rims, shoulders) or the fabric indicates separate vessels.

Area 2

Late Neolithic Grooved Ware Vessel Vessel 1. Represented by three base-angle sherds 87:2–4, two cordon sherds 87:6a–b, five bodysherds 87:1, 5, 6a–b, 8 (two with cordons) and seven fragments 87:7, 9a–f from a barrel-shaped flat based vessel with a low raised cordon probably not far below the rim. Thin-walled hard compact fabric with a moderate to high content of crushed quartzite inclusions (≤ 2.7mm). The smooth burnished surfaces are slightly weathered and small cavities are present on both surfaces. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface. A horizontal row of faint closely spaced comb impressions is present immediately above the cordon. A row of closely-spaced comb impressions and sometimes just an incised line is present around the circumference of the external surface of the base. Colour: brown- orange/dark orange-grey/black. T: 3.2–7.9mm. Weight: 135g.

Early Bronze Age Vase Urn Vessel 2. Represented by ten rimsherds 56:2–3, 7, 10, 13–14, 23, 32, 38, 40, ten shouldersherds 56:9, 25, 29–30, 36, 39, 43, 48, 53, 55, a base-angle fragment 56:37, seventeen bodysherds 56:1, 4–5, 8, 15, 18–19, 22, 26, 31, 49–52, 54, 57–58 and twenty eight fragments 56:2, 6, 11, 16–17, 20a–b, 21, 24, 27–28, 33–35, 41–42, 44–45, 46a–d, 47a–e, 56 from a vessel with a rounded rim, vertical neck, rounded shoulder and the belly slopes down to a narrow base. Hard but loose textured fabric with a moderate to high content of crushed inclusions (≤ 5.1mm). The smoothed surfaces are somewhat weathered. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface. The interior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with a herringbone pattern of two rows of oblique and opposing broad incised lines. The top of the rim is decorated with oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The exterior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with vertical and oblique broad incised lines, at the neck/shoulder junction is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by

59 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Archaeological Excavation Report

horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. The rounded shoulder is decorated with a horizontal row of oblique broad incised lines, below which is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. At the shoulder/ belly junction is a horizontal row of short oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The belly of the vessel is decorated with a broad incised lattice pattern. Colour: orange/dark grey-black/brown-black. T: 7.2–11.8mm. Weight: 893g.