Post on 25-May-2015
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Issue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237]
Archaeological Excavation Report
04E1119 - Stagpark 3, Co. Cork
Two Fulachta fiadh
Eachtra Journal
The Forge,Innishannon, Co. Cork.Tel.: 021 470 16 16Fax: 021 470 16 28E-mail: info@eachtra.ieWeb Site: www.eachtra.ie
Contact details:
July 2006
Client:
Final Excavcation Report of two Fulachta fiadh at Stagpark, N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road,Co. Cork
Cork County Council,National Roads Office,Richmond,Glanmire,Co. Cork
04E1119
Bruce Sutton
Licence No.:
Licensee:
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Table of Contents
i Project details .................................................................................................... iv
ii Non-Technical Summary ....................................................................................v
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................1
1.1 Site location ..................................................................................................1
1.2 Scope of the Project ......................................................................................1
1.3 Circumstances of discovery ..........................................................................1
1.4 Date and duration of excavation works .........................................................1
1.5 Size and composition of the excavation team ................................................2
2 Receiving Environment ......................................................................................2
2.1 The Natural Landscape ................................................................................2
2.2 The Human Landscape ................................................................................3
3 Research Framework ...........................................................................................7
4 Interim Findings .................................................................................................7
4.1 Excavation Methodology ..............................................................................7
4.2 Full Stratigraphic Report ..............................................................................7
4.3 Radiocarbon results .....................................................................................10
4.4 Plant remains report ....................................................................................11
5 Discussion and Interpretation ............................................................................ 11
6 Assessment of archaeological and significance .................................................... 11
7 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 11
8 Bibliography ......................................................................................................12
9 Figures ...............................................................................................................14
10 Plates .................................................................................................................24
11 Appendices ........................................................................................................27
11.1 Appendix 1: Matrices ..................................................................................27
11.2 Appendix 2: Context Register .....................................................................30
11.3 Appendix 3: Context Register .....................................................................47
11.4 Appendix 4: Charred plant remains from Stagpark 3, Co. Cork (04E1119) 47
11.5 Appendix 5: Summary account of site archive .............................................48
11.6 Appendix 6: Dissemination Strategy ............................................................49
11.7 Appendix 7: Programme Schedule Dates & Deliveries .................................49
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List of FiguresFigure 1: Portion of discovery map showing route of N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. ...........................14
Figure 2: Portion of RMP sheets CO019 & CO010 showing route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. .. ..............................................................................................................................................15
Figure 3: Portion of 1st edition maps sheets 10 & 19 showing Mitchelstown Demesne and the route of the N8 Mitchelstown Road. ..................................................................................................................16
Figure 4: Route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road showing location of all archaeological sites. .......17
Figure 5: Portion of route of N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road showing location of 04E1119. ...................18
Figure 6: Plan of extent of fulachta fiadh C.3 and C.4. ........................................................................19
Figure 7: Plan of extent of mound C.4. ............................................................................................... 20
Figure 8: Post-excavation plan and sections of trough C.45 and pits C.8 and C.17. ..............................21
Figure 9: Plan of extent of mound C.3. ................................................................................................22
Figure 10: Post-excavation plan and sections of trough C.88 and pit C.80. ..........................................23
List of PlatesPlate 1: View of trough C.45 and pit C.8 and C.17 from north. ........................................................... 24
Plate 2: View of stakeholes on northern side of pit C.17 from west. ...................................................... 24
Plate 3: View of trough C.45 from east. ................................................................................................25
Plate 4: View of area of mound C.3 post-excavation from south-west. ..................................................25
Plate 5: View of section of trough C.88 from east. ................................................................................26
Plate 6: View of pit C.80 and stakeholes C.118-C.122 from southeast. .................................................26
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Project details
Project N8 Mitchelstown Relief RoadSite Name Stagpark 3Site Type Fulachta FiadhLicence No. 04E1119Ministerial Order No. A012/001Licensee Bruce Sutton
Townland StagparkNat. Grid Ref. 180275 111397
Report Type Excavation ReportReport Status Final Report
Date of Submission July 2006Distribution Ken Hanley, Project Archaeologist Cork County Council, Dept. of the En-vironment, Heritage and Local Government, National Museum of Ireland and Cork Archaeological Survey Office.
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Non-Technical SummaryThis report details the results of an archaeological excavation undertaken by Eachtra Archaeological Projects of a site on the route of the proposed N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road, on behalf of Cork County Council. The proposed bypass involves the construction of 4.5km of the N8 from Cloonlough, south of Mitchelstown, to the junction of the R513 and the N8, north of Mitchelstown.
Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in June, July and Septem-ber 2004 under licences 04E0889-04E0892 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG). The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test sites of ar-chaeological potential identified in the EIS and geophysical surveying and to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing.
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 in order to avoid delays and costs during construction works. This phase of the project was carried out from September-December 2004 and excavations were conducted by two licensed directors under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. In total five sites were excavated during this phase of works and all excavations were carried out initially under separate licences issued by DoEHLG and subsequently under Ministe-rial Order.
One of these sites, Stagpark 3 is the subject of this report. It was identified in the testing in the town-land of Stagpark, at chainage 800 of the proposed road scheme and excavated under Licence Number 04E1119 and Ministerial Order Number A012/001. The site comprised two fulachta fiadh.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
1 Introduction
1.1 Site locationThis report details the results of the archaeological excavation of a site on N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road (MRR), County Cork (National Grid Co-ordinates 180275 111397). The site is located c.1 km to the southwest of Mitchelstown and less than 1km east of the N8 (Figure 1). It is located in the townland of Stagpark, the Parish of Brigown and barony of Condons and Clangibbon.
1.2 Scope of the ProjectThis Archaeological Services Project was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council, National Roads Design Office, Richmond, Glanmire, Co. Cork. This project was funded by the Irish Govern-ment under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. The purpose of the Project was to conduct Archaeological Site Investigations within the lands made available for the scheme and to assess the nature and extent of any new or potential archaeological sites uncovered. Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in June, July and Septem-ber 2004 under licences 04E0889-04E0892 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG). The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test sites of ar-chaeological potential identified in the EIS and geophysical surveying and to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing. 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 in order to avoid delays and costs during construction works. This phase of the project was carried out from September-December 2004 and excavations were conducted by two licensed directors under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. In total five sites were excavated during this phase of works and all excavations were carried out initially under separate licences issued by DoEHLG and subsequently under Ministe-rial Order.Following completion of fieldwork a dissemination strategy was undertaken and submitted to the project archaeologist. A programme of post-excavation analysis was agreed and commenced. A lecture on the preliminary findings was given to Mitchelstown Historical Society in May 2005 by the project and senior archaeologists. It is envisaged that a second lecture will be given to Mitchelstown Historical Society during their autumn/winter programme 2006-07.
1.3 Circumstances of discoveryPrehistoric archaeological material was discovered at Mitchelstown 2 during archaeological test trench-ing undertaken in June 2004 under licence 04E0890. Topsoil in the vicinity of the sites was subse-quently stripped by tracked machine using a flat bucket under the direction of the licensed director. When the limits of the site had been determined, full excavation of the site commenced under license 04E1119.
1.4 Date and duration of excavation worksThe excavation commenced on 13th September 2004 under licence 04E1119. The work was suspended
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on October 14th 2004 as it was necessary to apply for a Ministerial Order under the National Monu-ments Amendment Act 2004. The Ministerial Order, A012/000, was granted in November 2004 and excavation recommenced on 29th November 2004 and finished on 8th December 2004 under licence 04E1119 and Ministerial Order A012/001.
1.5 Size and composition of the excavation teamThe archaeological excavation team consisted of the licence holder, one supervisor, three site assistants and one general operative.
2 Receiving Environment
2.1 The Natural Landscape
2.1.1 Geology
The topography of East Cork and Waterford consists of east-west orientated 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 Carboniferous 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 et al. 1995, 1). Major earth movements have resulted in the uplifting and folding of the rock units. Anticlines occur when local uplift results in a convex upward fold. Synclines occur when local uplift results in a concave upward fold (ibid. 3). The Mitchelstown Syncline is composed of a variety of Carboniferous Formations. Three of these for-mations are located in the area of the route of the N8 MRR. The Croane Formation is composed of a mixture of mudstones and cherts and is estimated to be about 300m thick (ibid. 31). The Rathronan Formation is composed of micrites, wackestones and cherts (ibid. 32). The O’Mahony’s Rock Forma-tion consists of micrites, packstones, wackestones and grainstones and is estimated to be about 100m thick. The type area is between Mitchelstown Castle and Killee House to the west (ibid.).
2.1.2 Soils and their uses
The soils to the north of the Gradoge River to the west of Mitchelstown are characterised by a mix of acid brown earths, gleys and grey brown podzolics, which are derived from mixed sandstone and limestone glacial till while the underlying rock is Carboniferous limestone. The acid brown earths and gleys occur in the gently rolling valleys of Cork and Waterford mainly at altitudes of 0-75m (Gardiner 1980, 61). The soils have a wide use range and are suitable for tillage and grass production. The soils to the south of the Gradoge River are characterized by a mix of gleys and peaty gleys which are derived from glacial till of mixed sandstone-shale composition with a small admixture of limestone in places. They occur mostly at altitudes of 76m to 152m. The soils have a limited use range as they are poorly drained even on good slopes. They are best suited to grassland (ibid. 77-79)
2.1.3 Topography
The route of the N8 Mitchelstown relief road (MRR) traverses the townlands of Cloonlough, Stag
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Park and Mitchelstown on the western side of the town of Mitchelstown. The route extends from the N8 c. 1km south of Mitchelstown, crosses the N73 Mitchelstown/Mallow road, the Gradoge River Valley and traverses the ridge on the northern side of the river valley to the junction of the R513 Mitch-elstown/Ballylanders road and rejoins the N8. The northern half of the route traverses Mitchelstown Demesne, breaching the estate wall at the junction with the N73 and the R513. The southern half of the route climbs from c. 120m OD to 130m OD before descending to the banks of the Gradoge River, 80m OD and climbing northwards to the apex of the limestone ridge 110m OD.
The land is for the most part under pasture and is located at an altitude of between 80-130m OD. The landscape of the Mitchelstown area is dominated by the Galtee Mountains to the north, the Bal-lyhoura Mountains to the west and the Kilworth Mountains (the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains) to the south. The Gradoge River is a tributary of the Funshion River. It rises south of Mitchelstown on the southern slopes of the Kilworth Mountains and drains into the Funshion to the immediate west of the route of the N8 MRR. The River Funshion drains into the River Blackwater south of Kilworth.
The site of Stagpark 3 was located in low-lying pasture to the southeast and downslope of Stagpark 1 (04E1120) and 800m west of the N8.
2.2 The Human Landscape
2.2.1 Archaeological Background
There is a paucity of known archaeological sites within a 2 km radius of the route of the N8 MRR. Three prehistoric sites, fulachta fiadh (CO019-019, -020,-021) are recorded in Stagpark and Ballykear-ney between 100-500m of the route corridor. The site of Mitchelstown Castle (CO019-026), the as-sociated demesne and the historic town of Mitchelstown (CO019-149) are the principle medieval and post-medieval sites in the vicinity of the route corridor (Figures 2 and 3).
2.2.2 Mesolithic 7000 BC - 4000 BC
The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 7000 BC - 4000 BC). In Munster, the majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Mesolithic occupation has ‘come from the Blackwater valley in Co. Cork’ (Woodman 1989, 116). Flint scatters were recorded in the townlands of Ballynamona (CO018-099) and Wallstown (CO018-100) on the northern and southern sides of the Awbeg river respectively c. 15km to the west of the route of the N8 MRR (Power et. al. 2000, 2).
2.2.3 Neolithic 4000 BC -2500 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. Sub-stantial Neolithic settlement sites have been recorded at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick and Cloghers, Co. Kerry. The material culture includes the manufacture of pottery, flint and stone arrowheads, scrapers,
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axes etc. The range of monuments types includes Megalithic tombs (court tombs, portal tombs, pas-sage tombs and wedge tombs), single burial graves and stone circles.There is a paucity of evidence for Neolithic settlement sites in the south-west of Ireland. Recent infrastructural development has increased the amount of Neolithic sites in County Cork. The nearest known Neolithic house was excavated on the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy in the townland of Gor-tore. The structure was dated to the Early Neolithic cal BC 3928-3655 (UB 6769). Further evidence of the Neolithic was recorded at Fermoy and Curraghprevin (NRA N8 Rathcormac Fermoy).
2.2.4 Bronze Age 2000 BC -500 BC
The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy, the mining of copper ores and manufacture of copper, bronze and gold items. The range of burial site types includes, cist graves, pit and urn burials, cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and standing 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 are generally situated close to a water source. In many cases, however, all that survives to the present day are black spreads with fragments of shattered stones visible in ploughed fields. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cooking places’, whereby stones 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 and formed the basis of the familiar mound. The absence of animal remains and the scarcity of associated hearths have fuelled the debate in relation to the func-tion of the sites. Other theories on their interpretation include bathing and dyeing textiles together with the production of hot water and steam for curative purposes and sweat houses (Kelly 1989, 225). Waddell (1998, 177) suggests the semi-industrial purpose of using the boiling water for dipping hides as part of the preparation of the leather, while Dunne (pers. comm.) suggests a relationship between burnt mounds and Bronze Age funerary rites and burial practices.
There are few wedge tombs or stone circles known from north or east Cork. Two of the exceptions are wedge tombs located at Labbacallee (CO027-086) and at Manning (CO027-091) both located c. 8 km south of the N8 MRR. Labbacallee is one of the largest wedge tombs in the country.
The cemetery of Mitchelstowndown West contains 53 small barrows. Four of this group were selected for excavation by the Discovery Programme (Daly et. al. 1992, 44). The site of the cemetery is located 16 km to the north of the N8 MRR.
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.3.5km to the south of the N8 MRR (Power et. al. 2000, 210). A house site was excavated at Killydonoghoe on the route of the N8 Glanmire-Watergrasshill Bypass (NRA N8 Watergrasshill). A large Bronze Age settlement site consist-
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ing of four enclosures and three circular houses was excavated in 2003 at Ballybrowney on the route of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy (Cotter 2005, 38). A Middle Bronze Age settlement site was excavated in Mitchelstown (04E1072), a complex of Early and Late Bronze Age pits were excavated in Stagpark (04E1120) and three fulachta fiadh were excavated in Stagpark (04E1121 & 04E1119) on the route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. In addition a rare and important hoard of Early Bronze Age pottery was excavated on the banks of the Gradoge River (04E1071).
2.2.5 Iron Age 500 BC – 400 AD
At present, there is 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 cul-ture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, which are believed to have marked tribal boundaries, are one of the most visible monuments of the period. Three separate stretches of one such boundary, the Claidh Dubh, have been recorded in County Cork. The longest stretch, c. 24 km extends from the Nagle Mountains, across the Blackwater valley and into the Ballyhoura Hills. The Claidh Dubh crosses the N73 c. 12km west of the N8 MRR. Radiocarbon dating following excavation of a section of it revealed it dated to some time before 100AD (Doody 1995, 23).
Three of the five hillfort sites in Cork are located in North Cork (Power et al, 2000, 205). Caherdrinny is located at the western end of the Kilworth Mountains, c. 3 km to the south of the N8 MRR and Corrin is located at the eastern end of the Nagle Mountains c. 15 km to the south of the N8 MRR.
A complex of monuments in Conva townland (c. 15 km to the southwest of the N8 MRR) was identi-fied by aerial photography in the Blackwater Valley. Crop marks indicated three enclosures (CO034-7201, -7202, -7203) and a number of large pits (CO034-7204) possibly comprising a rectangular enclosure. The site was investigated in 1992 by Martin Doody of the Discovery Programme which involved geophysical prospection, topographic survey and trial excavation. Sections were dug through the three enclosures and through four of the large pits. Metal debris was discovered and radiocarbon dates indicated that the complex dated to the Iron Age/Early Medieval period.
A complex of pits, dating to the Iron Age, cal BC 346-45 (UB6719) was excavated in Stagpark (04E1120) on the route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road.
2.2.6 Early Medieval 400 AD – 1000 AD
The Early Medieval Period/Early Christian Period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. Early ecclesiastical sites are located at Brigown (CO019-030) on the southeastern side of Mitchelstown and to the west of the N8 MRR at Aghacross (CO019-002), Leabba Molagga and Mar-shalstown. The monastery of Brigown founded in the 7th century gives its name to the modern parish (Power 1996, 3).
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The characteristic monument type of the period was the ringfort. Ringforts are the most numerous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30 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 these monuments have a narrow date range during the Early Christian 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 and functioned as settlements for all classes of secular society (Stout, 1997). A major research excavation of two ringfort was undertaken at Lisleagh c. 3.5km to the south of the route of the N8 MRR. Structural, domestic and industrial evidence was recorded at both sites. A number of stake and wattle round houses, and iron working were recorded in Lisleagh I. Two phases of occupation were recorded at Lisleagh I. The Lisleagh I was constructed in the early seventh century and was occupied into the ninth century AD (Monk 1995, 105-116).
2.2.7 Medieval 1000 AD – 1300 AD & Late Medieval 1300 AD -1500 AD
The period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. 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, D. 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).Mitchelstown Castle was located on a limestone ridge on the southern bank of the Gradoge River. The first settlers, the Anglo-Norman FitzGibbons, held the title of White Knights. Their territory extended from Mitchelstown to Kilmallock (Power 2000, 1) and they built a tower house on the ridge. The White Knight lineage ended in the 17th century and the estate passed through marriage into the hands of the Fenton family (ibid. 3) and ultimately to the Kingstons. The earlier castle was destroyed in the wars of 1641.
A corn-drying kiln dating to the Later Medieval Period cal AD 1310-1434 (UB 6833) was excavated in Stagpark 2 (04E1121).
2.2.8 Post-Medieval 1500 AD – 1800 AD
In 1776 Lord Kingsborough, the 2nd earl of Kingston, created the new town of Mitchelstown. He demolished the old town between Kingston College and the Castle. Kingston College developed into a Georgian square. The new town was centred between the two parallel main streets of George Street and Cork Street. King Square and New Market Square became the focal points of the town (ibid.). St George’s Church, built in 1801, was located at the southern end of George Street and King Square at the northern end. New Market Square was located midway and on the western side of Cork Street. The new town was built on 138 acres.
Lord Kingsborough, the second earl of Kingston, built a new mansion on the site of the White Knights castle and a demesne around the mansion in the 18th century. A demesne wall was constructed around the parkland of some 1240 acres. The wall was ‘six-and-a-quarter-mile long…between eight and ten feet
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in height’ (Power 1996, 24). All public roads that were located within the area of the demesne were closed and rerouted on the periphery of the wall. Entry to the demesne was gained through Mallow Gate also known as White Gate, Limerick Gate and the main entrance was at King Square. Extensive works were undertaken within the area of the demesne which resulted in ‘a quadrangle of buildings, a garden of five English acres surrounded by a wall, large conservatories and lavishly arranged gardens became part of the scene. Two artificial lakes were developed beneath the rockface on which the castle stood ’ (ibid., 24). Several hundred acres of woodland comprising of oak, ash, larch, beech and alder were planted within the demesne. In 1823 the third earl of Kingston demolished the Georgian house and built a new castle on the same site. The architects James and George Pain designed and built this neo-Gothic castellated mansion. The limestone buildings formed three sides of a courtyard (Power 1996, 42).
Mitchelstown Castle was burnt by Republican forces in 1922. The stone was bought by the Cistercian Monks of Mount Melleray and reused to build a church. Few traces of the castle are visible today. At present, Dairygold occupies the site of the former castle. The 1240 acres of parkland was divided into farms, the town park and a golf course.
3 Research FrameworkThe following issues will be addressed in this report.The construction date or date of initial site activity and the date of abandonment.The absolute / relative chronology of site use in terms of phases and events.The location of known contemporaneous and comparable sites.The extent of the viable economic catchment area in terms of sources of water, food, raw materials,
transportation routes etc
4 Interim Findings
4.1 Excavation MethodologyA total area of 32m N-S by 32m E-W were excavated under license 04E1119 at Stagpark 3 (figure 5) (Grid coordinates 180182, 113286). A grid was established and the ground within the grid was cleaned by hand to locate and identify all archaeological features. Each identified feature was exca-vated, planned, photographed and recorded, with every fill and cut being assigned a context number. Charcoal and soil samples were taken from appropriate fills where necessary. All artefacts were re-trieved, registered, bagged and labelled.
4.2 Full Stratigraphic ReportSee Appendix 1 for the full stratigraphic matrix.
4.2.1 Stratigraphic Sequencing
4.2.1.1 Bronze Age
The archaeology at Stagpark 3 consisted of two separate fulachta fiadh distanced by less than 6m (Fig-
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ure 6). The burnt mound C.4 located in the southeast area of the site measured 19.2m by 15.4m and was the larger of the two. It was composed of grey-black clay silt and included frequent heat-shattered sandstone. The mound was very shallow being on average 0.1m-0.2m in depth. In total 33 stakeholes, three postholes, two pits (C8 and C.17) and a rectangular trough C.45 were located beneath the burnt mound C.4 (Figure 7, plate 1).
Pit C.17 measured 4.15m by 1.45m by 0.57m deep and was roughly orientated northwest-southeast. It contained four fills (C.13, C.14, C.15 and C.16) and was truncated by the pit C.8. Although C.17 was located under burnt mound material C.4, the in-filled material contained no burnt stone inclusions, suggesting it had in-filled prior to the build-up of the mound. C.8 measured 1.9m by 1.55m by 0.35m and contained three fills (C.9, C.12 and C.18) with burnt stone inclusions. Pit C.17 was surrounded by 25 stakeholes (C.11, C.49, C.53, C.51, C.33, C.34, C.41, C.63, C.60, C.141, C.39, C.103, C.102, C.37, C.31, C.101, C.100, C.27, C.25, C.29, C.35, C.58, C.62, C.65 and C.67) and three postholes (C.20, C.23 and C.71), all of which contained single fills (Figure 8, Plate 2). The majority of the stake-holes and postholes were located to the southwest and northeast of C.17, placing them along the sides of the pit. Only seven of the features (C.60, C.62, C.11, C.49, C.20, C.23 and C.67) were located at the northwestern and southeastern ends. Charcoal from the fill of stakehole C.51 was identified as hazel and/or alder. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 2122-1828 (UB-6718) was returned from charcoal from the stakehole. The stakeholes surrounding the pit did not form any discernible pattern or structure; it is likely that they formed a windbreak, spit or fire-side furniture, open to the northwest, associated with the pit.
The trough C.45 was located under the northern portion of the mound C.4, c. 2.3m north of the pit C.17. It was rectangular in shape and measured 2.02m by 1.45m by 0.65m deep (Figure 8, Plate 3). It contained four fills (C.42, C.43, C.44 and C.87), the main peat fill (C.44) accumulated after the abandonment of the area. The basal fill (C.87) was the remains of a waterlogged and badly degraded piece of timber, which lay flat in the base and was possibly the remains of a lining. Eight stakeholes (C.90, C.92, C.127 C.129, C.128, C.130, C131 and C.132) were located in the corners of the trough. These all contained similar grey-black silty sand fills which suggested the timber posts had degraded in situ. The presence of the stakeholes further confirms that the trough may have been timber lined.
The mound C.3 was located c. 6m to the northwest of mound C.4 (Figure 6). It measured 15.4m by 14m, making it the smaller of the two mounds. It was composed of grey-black clay silt and included frequent heat-shattered sandstone. The mound was very shallow being 0.1m-0.2m deep on average. The charcoal was identified as hazel and/or alder. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 2023-1773 (UB-6744) was returned from charcoal from the mound. The mound covered a trough, C.88 and two large pits C.80, C.110 and C.115, two small pits C.110 and C.74 and a number of stakeholes (Figure 9, plate 4).
The trough C.88 measured 2.75m by 2m by 0.8m in depth. It contained six fills (C.133, C.134, C.135,
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
C.136, C.137, C.138 and C.139) (Figure 10, Plate 5). The fills were a mix of sand and silty clays. The upper fill C.133 and fill C.136 included 50% heat-shattered stone. The basal fills were sandy. Six stakeholes (C.148, C.150, C.152, C.154, C.156, C.158) were recorded on the edge of the trough and four (C. 81, C.85, C.142, C.146) on the western perimeter. The largest of the stakeholes (C.156) mea-sured 0.13m by 0.1m by 0.24m in depth. The smallest stakehole (C.148) measured 0.07m by 0.09m by 0.02m in depth. The stakeholes within the trough were located, with the exception of C.158, to the northern section of the trough. The stakeholes on the perimeter were confined to the western edge. The stakeholes may have formed a windbreak, spit or fire-side furniture, open to the east.
The pit C.80 was located c.1.9m south-west of trough C.88 (Figure 10). It was truncated by a field drain on the southeastern side. It was rectangular in plan and measured 1.3m by 1.1m by 0.3m. Four fills (C.79, C.93, C.94 and C.95) were recorded in the pit. The fills were silty and clay sands with inclusions of heat-shattered stone. The basal fill C.95 was coarse sand. Five stakeholes (C.118, C.119, C.120, C.121 and C.122) were located on the northern and western edges of the pit (Plate 6). They were located within 0.2m-0.25m of each other. They measured on average 0.06m by 0.05 and varied in depth from 0.05m-0.12m. The stakeholes may have formed a windbreak, spit or fire-side furniture, and in a manner similar to those associated with the trough C.88 the apparatus was open to the east.
The pit C.115 was located 5.5m west of trough C.88. It was rectangular in plan and measured 2.6m by 1.1m by 0.35m in depth. The single clay silt fill included heat-shattered stones. The pit truncated a posthole C.117 to the west. It measured 0.35m in diameter by 0.3m in depth.
An semi-circular arc of three pits (C.68, C.74 and C.110) three postholes (C.75, C.113 and C.125) and five stakeholes (C.105, C.106, C.107, C.108 and C.109) were located c. 3.6m northeast of pit C.115 and c. 2.5m northwest of trough C.88. The arc measured c. 6m and the possible entrance was to the southwest. The pits varied in size, the smaller two (C.68 and C.74) measured 0.48m by 0.4m and 0.32 by 0.31m respectively. The larger pit C.110 measured 1m by 0.5m. All of the pits were shallow being c. 0.2m in depth. The smaller postholes (C.113 and C.125) measured c. 0.18m in diameter by 0.2m in depth. The larger C.75 was cut by the pit C.74 to the east. The stakeholes measured on average 0.14m by 0.13m and varied in depth from 0.1m-0.15m. All of the features were filled with a grey-black silty clay with inclusions of pebbles and occasional charcoal.
A large cut C.5 was located on the northern edge of the area of excavation. It measured 5.5m by 3m by a minimum of 1.4m in depth. The full depth of the cut could not be realised as it kept filling with rising water. It extended beyond the area of the excavation to the north. It is possible that the cut maybe a pit or the terminal of a ditch. The upper fill was a silty clay, similar to the natural sub-soil, the underlying fill was a peat deposit and the basal fill was a silty sand with inclusions of heat-shattered stone. It is possible that the feature is associated with modern drainage features.
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4.2.2 Stratigraphic Discussion
Two fulachta fiadh were located within 5m of one another at Stagpark. The monuments survive as very low mounds of black silt with inclusions of heat-shattered stones and are generally situated close to a water source. No water source was recorded within the field and no water source is indicated on the 1st edition OS map sheet CO019. The underlying clay subsoil is impermeable and land drains were recorded in the field. Each of the two mounds overlay a trough, pits, postholes and stakeholes. No evidence of a hearth was recorded. No stratigraphic evidence was recorded to sug-gest which of the mounds and associated features predated the other or if they were in use simultane-ously. The radiocarbon dates returned for the sites would suggest that the mound C.4, in the southeast, predated the mound C.3 to the northwest.
The mound C.4 overlay a pit and a rectangular trough. 25 stakeholes were located on the perimeter of the pit C.17. The stakeholes are likely to have formed a temporary structure in the vicinity of the pit. This may have been used for shelter or may have been linked to a structure associated with the pit. The trough was probably timber lined as stakeholes recorded in the corners of the rectangular trough would have formed part of the structure of a timber lining. The basal fills of the trough were sandy and may have accumulated from deposition of sand from the repeated use of heated sandstone in the trough.
The mound C.3 overlay a trough, 2 large pits and a possible wooden structure. The trough was deeper than either of the large pits. A number of stakeholes were recorded on the upper side of the northern portion of the trough C.88 but there was no evidence to suggest that the trough was timber lined. Stakeholes in a similar and compatible position were recorded on the upper side of pit C.80. These stakeholes may have been linked to a similar structure associated with the trough and pit. A possible semi-circular structure was located to the northwest of the trough. The structure would have been constructed of wooden stakes with the entrance to the southwest. Alternatively the structure may have formed a shelter belt for the pit C.115 to the southwest.
4.3 Radiocarbon resultsRadiocarbon dates were returned from the Radiocarbon Laboratory at Queens University Belfast. The two Early Bronze Age dates returned from Queens were accelerator dates obtained from samples of charcoal.
Table 1Lab. Code Sample Mate-
rialContext No. Yrs BP Calibrated Dates
2 sigmaUB-6744 Charcoal 3 3561+/-38 cal BC 2023-1773UB-6718 Charcoal 50 3599+/-38 cal BC 2122-1828
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4.4 Plant remains reportThe plant remains were examined by A. Brewer and P. Johnston (Appendix 4). Although all the sam-ples contained charcoal no charred seeds were recovered from the site. Charred seeds are consistently absent from burnt mound deposits.
5 Discussion and InterpretationThe site occurs within an area where a cluster of Bronze Age fulachta fiadh sites have been identified. Three burnt mounds were recorded (CO019-019, -020 and -021) within 500m of the site, while two other burnt mounds were excavated as part of this road project; Stagpark 2 (04E1121) was 800m away to the north and Mitchelstown 2 (04E1071) was 2km to the north. The intense use of this small area for the purposes of heating stones and water has produced a date range that suggests occupation on a long-term, if perhaps intermittent basis from at least the Early Bronze Age. The lower heavier wet-ter ground in the area was used for sites such as these. With the exception of the burnt mound at Mitchelstown 2, which was located on the northern bank of the Gradoge River, the remaining burnt mounds are not located adjacent to any known or contemporary water sources. The underlying subsoil is however a heavy clay which holds water very effectively being almost impermeable. The archaeo-logical evidence indicates that contemporary Early Bronze Age occupation occurred on the higher drier ground, at Stagpark 1 (04E1120) 600m to the north. An extensive occupation site, dating to the Middle Bronze Age, was located on a limestone ridge on the northern bank of the Gradoge River at Mitchelstown 1 (04E1072) 2.8km to the north.
6 Assessment of archaeological and significanceViewed in tandem with the archaeological evidence from all of the sites on the route of the Mitch-elstown Relief Road, the site at Stagpark 3 is of archaeological significance as it provides additional evidence of Bronze Age activity in the Mitchelstown area.
7 ConclusionThe fulachta fiadh at Stagpark 3 was contemporaneous with the Early Bronze Age activity at Stagpark 1 (04E1120) and with the ritual deposition of three pottery vessels on the northern bank of the Gra-doge River at Mitchelstown 2 (04E1071).
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8 BibliographyBarry, T.B. 1987 The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland, Routledge, London and New York.
Cotter, E. (2005) Bronze Age Ballybrowney County Cork in Recent Archaeological Discoveries on National Road Schemes 2004 NRA.
Doody, M. (1995) The Clight Dubh in Discovery Programme Reports 2 Project Results 1993. Royal Irish Academy / Discovery Programme Dublin 1995.
Doody, M. (1999), ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 5, 97-110. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.
Daly, A., Grogan, E. (1992) Excavation of Four Barrows in Mitchelstowndown West, Knocklong, County Limerick. Discovery Programme Reports 1 pp44-60. Royal Irish Academy.
Gardiner, M.J., Radford, T. 1980 Soil Associations of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. An Foras Talúntais.
Kelly, M. (1989) Early Ireland, An Introduction to Irish Prehistory. Cambridge University Press.
Monk, M. (1995) A Tale of Two Ringforts: Lisleagh I and II in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol. 100
Power, B (1996) From the Danes to Dairygold A History of Mitchelstown. Mount Cashell Books.
Power , B. 2000 White Knights, Dark Earls The Rise and Fall of an Anglo-Irish Dynasty. The Collins Press.
Power, D., Lane, S., Egan, U., Byrne, E., Egan, U., Sleeman, M., with Cotter, E., Monk, J. (2000) Archaeological Inventory of County Cork Volume 4: North Cork Parts 1 and 2. The Stationery Office.
Sleeman, D.G., McConnell, B. 1995 Geology of East Cork-Waterford Geological Survey of Ireland.
NRA Archaeological Discoveries N8 Watergrasshill Bypass.
NRA Archaeological Discoveries N8 Rathcormac Fermoy.
Stout, M. (2000) The Irish Ringfort Four Courts Press Dublin.
Waddell, J. (1998) The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway University Press.
Woodman, P.C. (1989) ‘The mesolithic in Munster: a preliminary assessment’, in Bonsall, C (ed), The Mesolithic in Europe, 116-24. John Donald. Edinburgh.
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Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’ in New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Wordwell, 1-10.
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9 Figures
Figure 1: Portion of discovery map showing route of N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road.
Bronze Age
Medieval
Post-medieval
Legend
04E1071Mitchelstown 2
04E1072Mitchelstown 1
04E1121 Stagpark 2
04E1120Stagpark 1
04E1119Spagpark 3
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 2: Portion of RMP sheets CO019 & CO010 showing route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road.
Well Field
Ballyarthur Field
Clyroe Field
Glen Field
Yeomens Field
Parkanimrish
Limekiln Field
GarraneDeer Park
Warren Field
High Field
Brick Field
Turnpike Field
Milk Field
Sund
ay W
ellSandpit Field
Donnellys Field
New Orchard Park
Fishpond
Laknock Field
Mitchelstown Castle
C
B
D
I
J
G
F
E
H
A
Extent of Mitchelstown Demense Line of N8, Mitchelstown Relief RoadA Barrett's GroveB Old PheasantryC Farm YardD Kiltaunave Old Grave YardE Carriganoura WoodF Whitegate GroveG Orchard GroveH Troopers LoughI Site of Church & GraveyardJ Parkaphuca
Reference
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 3: Portion of 1st edition maps sheets 10 & 19 showing Mitchelstown Demesne and the route of the N8 Mitchelstown Road.
Area A
Area B
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 4: Route of the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road showing location of all archaeological sites.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 5: Portion of route of N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road showing location of 04E1119.
0 5 m1 m
X = 180277 Y = 111381
X = 180277Y = 111401
17
8
45
Extent of mound C.4
14139
103
60 102 37 31
101100
27
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 6: Plan of extent of mound C.4.
N
A
A1
B
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A A1 B B1
0 1 m50 cm
17
8
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 7: Post-excavation plan and sections of trough C.45 and pits C.8 and C.17.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 8: Plan of extent of mound C.3.
N
05,20
05,29
A
A1
A A1
0 1 m50 cm
B B1
B
B1
88
80
84
146
142
8581
154156
152
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122121
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119
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136
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9480
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Figure 9: Post-excavation plan and sections of trough C.88 and pit C.80.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
10 Plates
Plate 1: View of trough C.45 and pit C.8 and C.17 from north.
Plate 2: View of stakeholes on northern side of pit C.17 from west.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Plate 3: View of trough C.45 from east.
Plate 4: View of area of mound C.3 post-excavation from south-west.
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Plate 5: View of section of trough C.88 from east.
Plate 6: View of pit C.80 and stakeholes C.118-C.122 from southeast.
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1
47
46
4
9 10 19 22 24 26 28 30 32 36
12 11 20 23 25 27 29 31 3733 34 35
18
21
8
13
14
15
16
17
2
11 Appendices
11.1 Appendix 1: Matrices
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1 47
46 4
38
40
48
50
52
57
59
61
64
66
70
99
140
39
41
49
51
53
60
62
65
67
71
58
63
100
101
102
103
141
2
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1
97
3
69 72 81 83 85 93 116 124
68 74 82 84 86 79 115 125
73 95 112 111
75 94 117 114
123113 110
118 119 120 121 122
80
2
1
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3 133
104 134
135105 106 107 108 109
136
137
139
159 157 155 153 151 149
158 156 154 152 150 148
88
2
1
44 54 143 147
42 55 142 146
43 56
87 5
89 91 126
90 92127 128 129 130 131 132
45
2
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Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
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rcoa
l inc
lusio
ns
11.2
A
ppen
dix
2: C
onte
xt R
egis
ter
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 30
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
1120
E9N
102
10O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of s
take
and
pos
t ho
les s
urro
undi
ng in
terc
uttin
g pi
ts C
. 8
and
C.1
7
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m x
0.0
7m
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
st
raig
ht/c
onca
ve si
des,
grad
ual
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se a
nd ro
unde
d ba
se12
20E9
N8
189
Re-
depo
sited
nat
ural
fill
of p
it C
.82
Mod
erat
ely
com
pact
ora
nge/
brow
n sa
ndy
clay
with
mod
erat
e sm
all
stone
incl
usio
ns 1
.1m
x 0
.85m
x
0.25
m d
eep
1320
E9N
1714
8Tr
unca
ted
fill o
f C.1
72
Soft
mid
gre
y sil
ty c
lay
with
oc-
casio
nal c
harc
oal f
leck
incl
usio
ns.
0.81
m x
0.7
1m x
0.1
6m d
eep
1420
E9N
1715
13Tr
unca
ted
fill o
f C.1
72
Com
pact
yel
low
ish o
rang
e cl
ay w
ith
occa
siona
l sm
all s
tone
incl
usio
ns.
0.84
m x
0.7
2m x
0.2
4m d
eep
1520
E9N
1716
14Tr
unca
ted
fill o
f C.1
72
Soft
dark
gre
y cl
ayey
silt
with
oc-
casio
nal s
mal
l sto
ne a
nd c
harc
oal
incl
usio
ns. 0
.93m
x 0
.84m
x 0
.14m
de
ep16
20E9
N17
1716
Trun
cate
d fil
l of C
.17
2So
ft ye
llow
ish o
rang
e sa
ndy
clay
w
ith o
ccas
iona
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns.
0.3m
x 0
.09m
dee
p17
20E9
N13
, 14,
15,
16
216
Cut
of l
arge
dom
estic
pit,
or p
ossib
le
earli
er p
hase
trou
gh. I
nfill
ed p
rior t
o th
e bu
ild u
p of
mou
nd m
ater
ial a
s no
heat
shat
tere
d sto
ne is
pre
sent
in th
e fil
l.
2Su
b-re
ctan
gula
r in
shap
e, 4
.15m
x
1.45
m x
0.5
7m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se a
nd fl
at
base
1820
E9N
821
9Fi
ll of
late
r pit
cut C
.8.
2Lo
ose
blac
k cl
ayey
silt
with
freq
uent
ch
arco
al a
nd sm
all t
o m
ediu
m st
one
incl
usio
ns 1
.75m
x 1
.1m
x 0
.32m
de
ep19
20E9
N20
204
Cha
rcoa
l ric
h po
stho
le fi
ll2
Firm
dar
k gr
ey/b
lack
sand
y sil
t w
ith m
oder
ate
stone
and
freq
uent
ch
arco
al in
clus
ions
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 31
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
2020
E9N
192
19T
he b
ase
of a
driv
en p
ost c
ut. A
ppea
rs
to h
ave
infil
led
prio
r to
build
-up
of
mou
nd
2C
ircul
ar p
ost c
ut 0
.12m
x 0
.1m
x
0.15
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
con
cave
side
s, gr
adua
l br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, rou
nded
poi
nt
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
2120
E9N
88
18R
edep
osite
d na
tura
l fill
of l
ater
pit
cut
C.8
.2
Loos
e or
ange
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
oc
casio
nal s
mal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
0.
9m x
0.1
2m d
eep
2220
E9N
2323
4C
harc
oal r
ich
post
hole
fill
2Fi
rm d
ark
grey
/bla
ck sa
ndy
silt w
ith
freq
uent
cha
rcoa
l and
occ
asio
nal
burn
t sto
ne in
clus
ions
2320
E9N
222
22C
ut o
f driv
en p
ost,
one
of a
gro
up o
f po
st a
nd st
akes
surr
ound
ing
pits
C.8
an
d C
.17
2O
val c
ut 0
.15m
x 0
.13m
x 0
.19m
de
ep w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p,
conc
ave
sides
, gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe
base
, rou
nded
poi
nt a
nd v
ertic
al
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
2420
E9N
2525
4N
atur
al in
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e.2
Soft
dark
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
oc-
casio
nal s
tone
incl
usio
ns25
20E9
N24
224
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a g
roup
of
stak
e an
d po
sts s
urro
undi
ng2
Circ
ular
stak
ehol
e 0.
07m
x 0
.06m
x
0.12
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, po
inte
d ba
se a
nd v
ertic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s26
20E9
N27
274
Fill
of st
akeh
ole
2Lo
ose
med
ium
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
oc
casio
nal s
mal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
2720
E9N
262
26C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake.
One
of a
gro
up o
f st
ake
and
post
s sur
roun
ding
pits
C.8
an
d C
.17
2O
val c
ut 0
.1m
x 0
.08m
x 0
.12m
de
ep w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p,
vert
ical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
i-na
tion
of a
xis
2820
E9N
2929
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Loos
e gr
ey/b
lack
sand
y cl
ay w
ith
freq
uent
smal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
2920
E9N
282
28C
ut o
f pos
sible
stak
e. O
ne o
f a g
roup
of
stak
e an
d po
sts s
urro
undi
ng p
its C
.8
and
C.1
7
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.05m
x 0
.05m
x
0.04
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, c
onca
ve b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 32
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
3020
E9N
3131
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Loos
e da
rk b
row
n sa
ndy
clay
with
no
incl
usio
ns31
20E9
N30
230
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a g
roup
of
stak
e an
d po
sts s
urro
undi
ng p
its C
.8
and
C.1
7
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.06m
x 0
.06m
x
0.11
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
3220
E9N
33,3
4,35
33,3
4,35
4In
fillin
g of
thre
e cl
osel
y gr
oupe
d st
akeh
oles
2So
ft da
rk g
rey
silty
cla
y w
ith o
c-ca
siona
l cha
rcoa
l and
smal
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns33
20E9
N32
232
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a g
roup
of
stak
e an
d po
sts s
urro
undi
ng. F
illed
w
ith th
e sa
me
mat
eria
l as c
lose
ly
grou
ped
stak
es C
.34
and
C.3
5
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.07m
x 0
.065
m x
0.
11m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s34
20E9
N32
232
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a g
roup
of
stak
e an
d po
sts s
urro
undi
ng p
its C
.8
and
C.1
7. F
illed
with
the
sam
e m
ate-
rial a
s clo
sely
gro
uped
stak
es C
.33
and
C.3
5
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.1m
x 0
.09m
x 0
.2m
de
ep w
ith g
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
to
p, st
eep
and
vert
ical
side
s, gr
adua
l br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, tap
ered
blu
nt
base
and
ver
tical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
3520
E9N
322
32C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake.
One
of a
gro
up o
f st
ake
and
post
s sur
roun
ding
pits
C.8
an
d C
.17.
Fill
ed w
ith th
e sa
me
mat
e-ria
l as c
lose
ly g
roup
ed st
akes
C.3
3 an
d C
.34
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.095
m x
0.0
9m x
0.
06m
dee
p w
ith g
radu
al a
nd
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
sid
es, g
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e,
roun
ded
poin
t bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
3620
E9N
3737
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Loos
e gr
ey/b
lack
sand
y cl
ay w
ith
occa
siona
l dec
ayed
ston
e in
clus
ions
3720
E9N
362
36C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake.
One
of a
gro
up o
f st
akeh
oles
surr
ound
ing
pits
C.8
and
C
.17.
2C
ircul
ar c
ut 0
.05m
x 0
.05m
x
0.12
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
3820
E9N
3838
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Loos
e gr
ey/b
row
n sa
ndy
clay
with
no
incl
usio
ns
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 33
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
3920
E9N
382
38C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake.
One
of a
gro
up o
f st
ake
and
post
s sur
roun
ding
pits
C.8
an
d C
.17.
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
cut 0
.1m
x 0
.1m
x
0.12
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis.
4020
E9N
4141
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Soft
blac
k sil
ty c
lay
with
occ
asio
nal
char
coal
and
sub
angu
lar p
ebbl
e in
clus
ions
4120
E9N
402
40D
riven
stak
e cu
t. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
stak
es a
nd p
osts
surr
ound
ing
pits
C.8
an
d C
.17
2O
val c
ut 0
.075
m x
0.0
7m x
0.0
8m
deep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ve
rtic
al si
des,
grad
ual b
reak
of s
lope
ba
se a
nd ro
unde
d po
int
4220
E14N
4543
44In
fill o
f tro
ugh
C.4
5. T
his a
ppea
rs to
be
nat
ural
mat
eria
l tha
t has
slum
ped
in
to th
e cu
t, al
terin
g th
e or
igin
al sh
ape
of
the
sides
3M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct li
ght b
row
n/or
ange
silty
cla
y w
ith o
ccas
iona
l m
ediu
m si
zed
stone
incl
usio
ns
4320
E14N
4587
42Bu
rnt m
ound
mat
eria
l loc
ated
in
the
base
of t
roug
h C
.45.
The
smal
l am
ount
in th
e ba
se w
ould
seem
to
have
acc
umul
ated
shor
tly a
fter u
se a
s it
lay
unde
rnea
th th
e slu
mpe
d na
tura
l m
ater
ial C
.42
3Lo
ose
blac
k sa
ndy
clay
with
med
i-um
hea
t sha
tter
ed st
one
incl
usio
ns.
4420
E14N
4542
4Pe
at la
yer t
hat h
ad a
ccum
ulat
ed in
the
trou
gh a
fter u
se a
nd su
bseq
uent
slum
p-in
g of
nat
ural
mat
eria
l
3M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct d
ark
brow
n-ish
bla
ck o
rgan
ic p
eat w
ith v
ery
occa
siona
l sm
all s
tone
and
freq
uent
or
gani
c in
clus
ions
4520
E14N
42,4
3,44
,87
287
Cut
of r
ecta
ngul
ar tr
ough
loca
ted
at
the
nort
hern
edg
e of
mou
nd C
. 4. C
on-
tain
ed p
ost a
nd st
akeh
oles
in th
e fo
ur
corn
ers.
The
re w
as a
ver
y th
in a
nd fr
ag-
ile p
ossib
le w
oode
n pl
ank
loca
ted
in th
e ba
se, s
ugge
stin
g a
timbe
r lin
ing.
The
siz
e of
the
trou
gh w
ould
indi
cate
that
th
e m
ound
was
muc
h m
ore
subs
tant
ial
orig
inal
ly. h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
mea
nt th
at
the
trou
gh fi
lled
with
wat
er n
atur
ally
2Su
b-re
ctan
gula
r cut
2.0
2m x
1.4
5m
x 0.
65m
dee
p w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p, c
onca
ve
sides
, sha
rp b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e an
d fla
t bas
e.
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 34
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
4620
E14N
41
Thi
s lay
er re
pres
ents
the
build
up
of
peat
afte
r the
on-
site
bron
ze a
ge a
ctiv
ity
and
is sit
uate
d ac
ross
the
nort
hwes
tern
po
rtio
n of
the
mou
nd
3M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct d
ark
brow
n/bl
ack
peat
with
freq
uent
org
anic
in
clus
ions
4720
E14N
4N
umbe
r giv
en to
mod
ern
field
dra
in4
Line
ar S
E-N
W o
rient
ated
fiel
d dr
ain
runn
ing
acro
ss si
te48
20E9
N49
494
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
2M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct m
id g
rey/
brow
n sa
ndy
clay
with
occ
asio
nal
smal
l sto
ne a
nd c
harc
oal i
nclu
sions
4920
E9N
482
48C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
loca
ted
to th
e so
uth
of p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17.
One
of a
num
ber
of p
osts
and
stak
es su
rrou
ndin
g th
ese
pits
2O
val c
ut 0
.06m
x 0
.03m
x 0
.07m
de
ep w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p,
conv
ex si
des,
grad
ual b
reak
of s
lope
ba
se, r
ound
ed b
ase
and
a so
uth
to
nort
h in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s50
20E9
N51
514
Stak
ehol
e fil
l 2
Soft
light
gre
y cl
ayey
silt
with
oc-
casio
nal c
harc
oal f
leck
s51
20E9
N50
250
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
stak
es a
nd p
osts
that
surr
ound
pits
C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.07
5m x
0.
07m
x 0
.14m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e, v
ertic
al si
des,
grad
ual b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e, p
oint
ed
base
and
ver
tical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
5220
E9N
5353
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e ar
ound
pits
C. 8
an
d C
.17
2So
ft da
rk g
rey
clay
ey si
lt w
ith n
o in
clus
ions
5320
E9N
522
52C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
loca
ted
to th
e so
uth
of p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17.
One
of a
num
ber
of p
osts
and
stak
es su
rrou
ndin
g th
ese
pits
2O
val s
take
hole
0.0
65m
x 0
.09m
x
0.06
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
, ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak
of sl
ope
base
, rou
nded
blu
nt p
oint
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s54
5E25
N5
551
Upp
er fi
ll of
larg
e w
ater
logg
ed p
it C
.5.
?M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct li
ght o
rang
e br
own
silty
cla
y w
ith o
ccas
iona
l or
gani
c in
clus
ions
. 0.2
5m d
eep
555E
25N
556
54Pe
at li
ke d
epos
it in
pit
C.5
. Thi
s was
th
e m
ost s
ubst
antia
l dep
osit
in th
e se
ctio
n.
?Fi
rm/w
et g
rey/
brow
n or
gani
c m
ate-
rial l
ike
not f
ully
form
ed p
eat w
ith
orga
nic
incl
usio
ns. 0
.5m
dee
p.
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 35
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
565E
25N
55
55Lo
wer
fill
of p
it C
.5. T
his w
as m
ound
m
ater
ial.
Dep
th w
as u
nkno
wn
as
even
with
pum
p w
ater
rose
too
fast
to
exca
vate
.
?So
ft lo
ose
wat
erlo
gged
bla
ck si
lty
coar
se sa
nd a
nd h
eat s
hatt
ered
sto
ne. D
epth
unk
now
n
5720
E9N
58,6
358
,63
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Soft
dark
gre
y cl
ayey
silt
with
oc-
casio
nal c
harc
oal f
leck
ing
and
smal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
5820
E9N
572
57C
ut o
f driv
en st
akeh
ole.
One
of a
nu
mbe
r of s
take
hole
s sur
roun
ding
pits
C
. 8 a
nd C
.17
2Su
b-ov
al st
akeh
ole
cut 0
.145
m
x 0.
115m
x 0
.22m
dee
p w
ith
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
sid
es, g
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e,
roun
ded
poin
t and
ver
tical
incl
ina-
tion
of a
xis
5910
E9N
6060
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e.2
Mod
erat
ely
com
pact
bro
wni
sh g
rey
silty
cla
y w
ith n
o in
clus
ions
6059
259
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
stak
es a
nd p
osts
that
surr
ound
pits
C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m sq
uare
x
0.13
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
6162
624
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
2M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct b
row
nish
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
occ
asio
nal s
mal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
6261
261
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
stak
es a
nd p
osts
that
surr
ound
pits
C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m x
0.0
7m
x 0.
07m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s63
20E9
N57
257
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
stak
es su
rrou
ndin
g pi
ts C
.8 a
nd
C.1
7
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.1m
squa
re
x 0.
13m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
grad
ual
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, r
ound
ed p
oint
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s64
6565
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Soft
dark
gre
y sil
ty c
lay
with
occ
a-sio
nal c
harc
oal f
leck
incl
usio
ns
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 36
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
6564
264
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e lo
cate
d to
the
wes
t of
pits
C.8
and
C.1
7. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of
pos
ts a
nd st
akes
surr
ound
ing
thes
e pi
ts
2O
val s
take
hole
0.1
m x
0.0
85m
x
0.07
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
, ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak
of sl
ope
base
, rou
nded
blu
nt p
oint
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s66
6767
4In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Soft
mid
gre
y cl
ayey
silt
with
occ
a-sio
nal c
harc
oal f
leck
incl
usio
ns67
662
66C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
loca
ted
to th
e so
uth
of p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17.
One
of a
num
ber
of p
osts
and
stak
es su
rrou
ndin
g th
ese
pits
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.11
5m x
0.
1m x
0.1
6m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, rou
nded
poi
nt
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
6869
269
Cut
of s
mal
l sha
llow
pit
with
no
dis-
cern
ible
func
tion
2O
val p
it cu
t 0.4
8m x
0.4
1m x
0.2
m
deep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope,
ve
rtic
al c
onca
ve si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
and
flat
bas
e69
6868
3N
atur
al in
fillin
g of
smal
l sha
llow
pit
3M
oder
atel
y co
mpa
ct d
ark
brow
n-ish
gre
y sa
ndy
silt w
ith o
ccas
iona
l de
caye
d sto
ne in
clus
ions
7071
714
Infil
ling
of d
riven
pos
t2
Mod
erat
ely
hard
mid
gre
y cl
ayey
sil
t with
freq
uent
cha
rcoa
l and
oc
casio
nal b
urnt
ston
e in
clus
ions
. C
harc
oal l
ocat
ed m
ainl
y in
the
cent
re o
f the
cut
7170
270
Cut
of d
riven
pos
t loc
ated
to th
e so
uth
of p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17.
One
of a
num
ber
of st
akes
and
pos
ts th
at su
rrou
nd th
ese
two
pits
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar p
osth
ole
0.15
m x
0.
14m
x 0
.22m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p, c
onca
ve si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, V-s
hape
d ba
se a
nd v
ertic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s72
7474
1In
fillin
g of
shal
low
pit
2So
ft bl
ack
silty
cla
y w
ith fr
eque
nt
burn
t sto
ne in
clus
ions
7375
7574
Infil
ling
of p
osth
ole.
Tru
ncat
ed b
y pi
t C
.74
2So
ft da
rk g
rey
clay
ey si
lt w
ith o
c-ca
siona
l sm
all s
tone
and
cha
rcoa
l in
clus
ions
. 0.9
3m x
0.8
4m x
0.1
4m
deep
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 37
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
7472
7372
Cut
of s
hallo
w p
it of
unk
now
n pu
r-po
se. T
runc
ates
pos
thol
e C
.75
2C
ircul
ar p
it 0.
32m
x 0
.31m
x 0
.2m
de
ep w
ith sh
arp,
gra
dual
and
im-
perc
eptib
le b
reak
of s
lope
top,
stee
p sid
es, g
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e an
d fla
t bas
e75
732
73C
ut o
f pos
thol
e in
clo
se p
roxi
mity
to a
nu
mbe
r of s
take
hole
s. C
ut b
y sh
allo
w
pit C
.74
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar p
it 0.
66m
x 0
.45m
x
0.41
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
stee
p an
d ve
rtic
al si
des,
grad
ual b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e an
d ro
unde
d po
int
76C
ance
lled
cont
ext
77C
ance
lled
cont
ext
78C
ance
lled
cont
ext
7980
9593
Infil
ling
of d
omes
tic p
it3
Mod
erat
ely
com
pact
dar
k gr
ey
sand
y sil
t with
dec
ayed
ston
e an
d ch
arco
al in
clus
ions
8079
,93,
94,9
52
94C
ut o
f pos
sible
dom
estic
pit.
Tru
ncat
ed
on th
e so
uthe
rn si
de b
y a
mod
ern
field
dr
ain.
The
nor
ther
n sid
e co
ntai
ned
five
equa
lly sp
aced
stak
ehol
es in
the
base
. T
hese
are
ass
umed
to b
e as
soci
ated
w
ith th
e pi
t som
ehow
2R
ecta
ngul
ar p
it w
ith ro
unde
d co
rner
s1.3
5m x
1.1
m x
0.3
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
ti-ca
l con
cave
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase
and
flat r
ecta
ngul
ar b
ase
8182
823
Nat
ural
infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole.
3So
ft m
id b
row
nish
gre
y cl
ayey
sand
w
ith n
o in
clus
ions
8281
281
Driv
en st
akeh
ole
on th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of tr
ough
62
Circ
ular
stak
ehol
e 0.
11m
squa
re
x 0.
19m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, v-s
hape
d ba
se a
nd e
ast
to w
est i
nclin
atio
n of
axi
s83
8484
3In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e2
Soft
light
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
no
incl
usio
ns84
832
83C
ut o
f driv
en st
akeh
ole
loca
ted
unde
r m
ound
C.3
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.11
m x
0.
1m x
0.15
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 38
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
8586
863
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
on n
orth
ern
edge
of
trou
gh 6
. Loc
ated
und
er m
ound
C.3
2C
ompa
ct d
ark
grey
fine
sand
with
no
incl
usio
ns86
852
85C
ut o
f sta
keho
le o
n no
rthe
rn e
dge
of
trou
gh C
.62
Ova
l sta
keho
le 0
.13m
x 0
.08m
x
0.12
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, u
neve
n ba
se a
nd w
est-
east
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
8745
4543
Poss
ible
pat
chy
rem
ains
of t
imbe
r sur
-fa
ce in
trou
gh C
.45.
The
woo
d w
as so
de
caye
d th
at it
rem
aine
d on
ly a
s a th
in
piec
e of
alm
ost b
row
n st
aini
ng a
t the
ba
se o
f the
trou
gh
2M
ostly
ora
nge/
brow
n. F
airly
flat
in
plan
. V w
et a
nd b
rittle
, com
plet
ely
satu
rate
d. 1
.27m
x 0
.45m
x 0
.02m
de
ep
8813
3, 1
34,
135,
136
, 13
7, 1
38, 1
39
213
9C
ut o
f ova
l tro
ugh
for m
ound
C.3
. Lo-
cate
d on
the
east
ern
edge
of t
he m
ound
2O
val t
roug
h 2.
75m
x 2
m x
0.8
m
with
gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe to
p,
stee
p sid
es, s
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe
base
and
flat
bas
e
Sing
le
piec
e of
w
orke
d fli
nt89
9090
,45
87In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e3
Loos
e w
et g
reyi
sh b
lack
fine
silty
sa
nd
9089
4589
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e/po
st in
nor
thw
est
corn
er o
f tro
ugh
C.4
5. S
imila
r fea
ture
s ar
e lo
cate
d in
the
othe
r thr
ee c
orne
rs o
f th
e tr
ough
sugg
estin
g th
ey su
ppor
ted
som
e fo
rm o
f str
uctu
re
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.13
m sq
uare
x
0.22
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
stee
p sid
es, s
harp
bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase,
v-s
hape
d ba
se a
nd v
erti-
cal i
nclin
atio
n of
axi
s91
9292
87In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e3
Loos
e w
et g
reyi
sh b
row
n sil
ty sa
nd
with
no
incl
usio
ns92
9145
91C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
in so
uthw
est c
orne
r of
trou
gh C
.45.
Sim
ilar f
eatu
res l
ocat
ed
in th
e ot
her t
hree
cor
ners
wou
ld su
g-ge
st a
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ure
of so
me
form
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
cut 0
.09m
x
0.07
m x
0.1
8m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, r
ound
ed
poin
t and
slig
ht so
uth-
nort
h in
cli-
natio
n of
axi
s93
8079
3In
fill o
f dom
estic
pit
C.8
0.3
Firm
bla
ck si
lty sa
nd 0
.4m
dee
p w
ith b
urnt
ston
e in
clus
ions
9480
123
95In
fill o
f dom
estic
pit
C.8
0.3
Soft
mid
gre
y cl
ayey
silt
with
ston
e in
clus
ions
0.0
9m d
eep
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 39
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
9580
9479
Infil
l of d
omes
tic p
it C
.80.
3Lo
ose
mid
bro
wni
sh g
rey
coar
se
sand
with
dec
ayed
ston
e in
clus
ions
0.
3m d
eep
96C
ance
lled
cont
ext
9798
31
Num
ber g
iven
to p
loug
h fu
rrow
. Cut
s th
roug
h m
ound
C.3
and
sout
hern
edg
e of
dom
estic
pit
C.8
0
4Li
near
plo
ugh
furr
ow 0
.12m
wid
e x
0.1m
dee
p fil
led
with
sub
angu
lar
stone
s98
Can
celle
d co
ntex
t99
100,
101
, 10
2, 1
03,
141
100,
101
, 10
2, 1
03,
141
4Fi
ll of
four
clo
sely
gro
uped
stak
ehol
es
on th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of p
it C
.17
2Lo
ose
mid
gre
y sa
ndy
clay
with
oc
casio
nal s
mal
l sto
ne a
nd c
harc
oal
incl
usio
ns10
099
299
Stak
ehol
e cu
t to
the
nort
h of
pit
C.1
7.
One
of a
num
ber o
f pos
ts a
nd st
akes
th
at su
rrou
nd p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2Ir
regu
lar s
take
hole
cut
0.1
m x
0.1
m
x 0.
09m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, st
eep
and
vert
ical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase
and
roun
ded
base
101
992
99St
akeh
ole
cut t
o th
e no
rth
of p
it C
.17.
O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of p
osts
and
stak
es
that
surr
ound
pits
C.8
and
C.1
7
2O
val s
take
hole
0.0
8m x
0.0
6m x
0.
12m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s10
299
299
Stak
ehol
e cu
t to
the
nort
h of
pit
C.1
7.
One
of a
num
ber o
f pos
ts a
nd st
akes
th
at su
rrou
nd p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.07
m x
0.0
7m
x 0.
16m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s10
399
299
Stak
ehol
e cu
t to
the
nort
h of
pit
C.1
7.
One
of a
num
ber o
f pos
ts a
nd st
akes
th
at su
rrou
nd p
its C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.05
m x
0.0
5m
x 0.
09m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s10
410
5, 1
06,
107,
108
, 10
9
105,
106
, 10
7, 1
08,
109
3In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e a
num
ber o
f cl
osel
y gr
oupe
d st
akeh
oles
2So
ft gr
eyish
bla
ck si
lty c
lay
with
oc
casio
nal p
ebbl
e an
d ch
arco
al
incl
usio
ns
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 40
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
105
104
210
4C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
unde
r wha
t wou
ld
have
bee
n th
e ea
ster
n ed
ge o
f mou
nd
C.3
. One
of a
num
ber o
f sta
keho
les i
n th
is ar
ea
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.11
m x
0.1
1m
x 0.
12m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
grad
ual
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
106
104
210
4C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
unde
r wha
t wou
ld
have
bee
n th
e ea
ster
n ed
ge o
f mou
nd
C.3
. One
of a
num
ber o
f sta
keho
les i
n th
is ar
ea
2O
val s
take
hole
0.1
6m x
0.1
2m x
0.
1m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase,
roun
ded
poin
t and
ver
ti-ca
l inc
linat
ion
of a
xis
107
104
210
4C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
unde
r wha
t wou
ld
have
bee
n th
e ea
ster
n ed
ge o
f mou
nd
C.3
. One
of a
num
ber o
f sta
keho
les i
n th
is ar
ea
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.12
m x
0.
12m
x 0
.14m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
grad
ual b
reak
of s
lope
bas
e,
roun
ded
poin
t and
ver
tical
incl
ina-
tion
of a
xis
108
104
210
4C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
unde
r wha
t wou
ld
have
bee
n th
e ea
ster
n ed
ge o
f mou
nd
C.3
. One
of a
num
ber o
f sta
keho
les i
n th
is ar
ea
2C
ut o
f ova
l sta
keho
le 0
.14m
x
0.12
5m x
0.15
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase,
ro
unde
d po
int a
nd v
ertic
al in
clin
a-tio
n of
axi
s10
910
42
104
Cut
of d
riven
stak
e un
der w
hat w
ould
ha
ve b
een
the
east
ern
edge
of m
ound
C
.3. O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of s
take
hole
s in
this
area
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
with
gra
dual
br
eak
of sl
ope
top
and
base
, ver
tical
sid
es, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s11
011
1, 1
142
114
Cut
of p
ossib
le d
omes
tic p
it. C
ut b
y po
stho
le C
.125
2Su
b-ov
al p
it 1.
02m
x 0
.5m
x 0
.24m
de
ep w
ith g
radu
al b
reak
of s
lope
top
and
base
, gra
dual
and
stee
p sid
es
and
flat b
ase
111
110,
113
114
125
Infil
ling
of p
ossib
le d
omes
tic p
it an
d po
stho
le. I
nfill
ed p
rior t
o on
-site
act
iv-
ity a
s cut
by
post
hole
C.1
25
2So
ft bl
ack
clay
ey si
lt 0.
14m
dee
p w
ith m
oder
ate
char
coal
sand
stone
in
clus
ions
112
117
117
115
Infil
ling
of p
osth
ole,
cut
by
pit C
.115
2U
nkno
wn
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 41
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
113
111,
114
211
4Po
stho
le c
ut in
clo
se p
roxi
mity
to a
nu
mbe
r of o
ther
stak
ehol
es2
Sub-
circ
ular
pos
thol
e 0.
21m
x 0
.2m
x
0.23
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, rou
nded
blu
nt
poin
t and
ver
tical
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
Flin
t Fl
ake
114
110,
113
110,
113
111
Infil
ling
of p
ossib
le d
omes
tic p
it an
d po
stho
le. I
nfill
ed p
rior t
o on
-site
act
iv-
ity a
s cut
by
post
hole
C.1
25
2So
ft m
id b
row
n sil
ty c
lay
0.1m
dee
p w
ith o
ccas
iona
l peb
ble
and
char
coal
fle
ck in
clus
ions
115
116
112
116
Cut
of p
ossib
le d
omes
tic p
it. T
runc
ates
po
stho
le C
.117
2Su
b-ov
al p
it 2.
6m x
1.1
m x
0.3
5m
deep
with
gra
dual
bre
ak o
f slo
pe to
p an
d ba
se, g
ently
slop
ing
sides
and
fla
t bas
e11
611
511
53
Infil
ling
of p
ossib
le d
omes
tic p
it 2
Firm
bla
ck c
laye
y sil
t with
bur
nt
stone
and
cha
rcoa
l inc
lusio
ns11
711
22
112
Driv
en p
osth
ole
cut t
runc
ated
by
pit
C.1
152
Circ
ular
pos
thol
e 0.
35m
x 0
.35m
x
0.31
m d
eep
with
gra
dual
bre
ak
of sl
ope
top
and
base
, ver
tical
side
s an
d ro
unde
d bl
unt p
oint
118
123
8012
3O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of e
qual
ly sp
aced
st
akeh
oles
with
in th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of
pit C
.80
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.05
m x
0.0
5m
x 0.
09m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
and
ver
tical
incl
ina-
tion
of a
xis
119
123
8012
3O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of e
qual
ly sp
aced
st
akeh
oles
with
in th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of
pit C
.80
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.06
m x
0.0
6m
x 0.
13m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
and
ver
tical
incl
ina-
tion
of a
xis
120
123
8012
3O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of e
qual
ly sp
aced
st
akeh
oles
with
in th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of
pit C
.80
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.05
m x
0.0
5m
x 0.
06m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s12
112
380
123
One
of a
num
ber o
f equ
ally
spac
ed
stak
ehol
es w
ithin
the
nort
hern
edg
e of
pi
t C.8
0
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.07
m x
0.0
7m
x 0.
12m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 42
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
122
123
8012
3O
ne o
f a n
umbe
r of e
qual
ly sp
aced
st
akeh
oles
with
in th
e no
rthe
rn e
dge
of
pit C
.80
2O
val s
take
hole
0.0
6m x
0.0
4m x
0.
05m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s12
311
8, 1
19,
130,
121
, 12
2
118,
119
, 13
0, 1
21,
122
94In
fillin
g of
a n
umbe
r of s
take
hole
s lo
cate
d al
ong
the
base
of p
it C
.80
2So
ft lig
ht b
row
nish
gre
y sil
ty c
lay
with
no
incl
usio
ns
124
125
125
3In
fillin
g of
driv
en p
osth
ole
2So
ft da
rk g
rey
silty
cla
y w
ith o
c-ca
siona
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns12
512
42
111
Cut
of d
riven
pos
thol
e th
at tr
unca
tes
earli
er p
it C
.110
2C
ircul
ar p
osth
ole
0.17
m x
0.15
m x
0.
2m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top,
ver
tical
side
s, gr
adua
l bre
ak o
f slo
pe b
ase
and
roun
ded
poin
t12
612
7, 1
2812
743
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
oles
with
in th
e ba
se
of tr
ough
C.4
52
Soft
wet
bla
ck sa
ndy
silt w
ith o
c-ca
siona
l sto
ne a
nd fr
eque
nt c
harc
oal
incl
usio
ns12
712
645
126
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
in so
uthe
ast
corn
er o
f tro
ugh
C.4
5. S
imila
r fea
ture
s in
the
othe
r cor
ners
wou
ld su
gges
t a
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m x
0.0
8m
x 0.
18m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al si
des
and
poin
ted
base
, with
ver
tical
in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s12
812
645
126
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
in so
uthe
ast
corn
er o
f tro
ugh
C.4
5. S
imila
r fea
ture
s in
the
othe
r cor
ners
wou
ld su
gges
t a
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
cut 0
.06m
x
0.06
m x
0.1
6m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
top
and
base
, ver
tical
sid
es, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
vert
ical
in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s12
912
645
126
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
in n
orth
east
co
rner
of t
roug
h C
.45.
Sim
ilar f
eatu
res
in th
e ot
her c
orne
rs w
ould
sugg
est a
su
ppor
ted
stru
ctur
e of
som
e ki
nd
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m x
0.
07m
x 0
.16m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p, a
nd b
ase,
ver
tical
sid
es, p
oint
ed b
ase
and
near
ly v
erti-
cal i
nclin
atio
n of
axi
s13
012
645
126
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
in so
uthe
ast
corn
er o
f tro
ugh
C.4
5. S
imila
r fea
ture
s in
the
othe
r cor
ners
wou
ld su
gges
t a
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.04
m x
0.0
4m
x 0.
11m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
base
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 43
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
131
126
4512
6C
ut o
f sta
keho
le lo
cate
d in
sout
heas
t co
rner
of t
roug
h C
.45.
Sim
ilar f
eatu
res
in th
e ot
her c
orne
rs w
ould
sugg
est a
su
ppor
ted
stru
ctur
e of
som
e ki
nd
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.05
m x
0.
04m
x 0
.1m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al
sides
, poi
nted
bas
e an
d ve
rtic
al
incl
inat
ion
of a
xis
132
126
4512
6C
ut o
f sta
keho
le lo
cate
d in
sout
heas
t co
rner
of t
roug
h C
.45.
Sim
ilar f
eatu
res
in th
e ot
her c
orne
rs w
ould
sugg
est a
su
ppor
ted
stru
ctur
e of
som
e ki
nd
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.06
m x
0.0
6m
x 0.
14m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al si
des,
poin
ted
base
and
ver
tical
incl
ina-
tion
of a
xis
133
8813
42
Upp
er fi
ll of
trou
gh C
.88.
Loc
ated
to
the
east
of m
ound
. Alth
ough
doe
s not
lie
und
er th
e m
ound
it d
oes c
onta
in
hest
shat
tere
d sto
ne
3Lo
ose
dark
bro
wn
/bla
ck sa
nd c
lay
with
50%
hea
t sha
tter
ed st
one
incl
usio
ns 0
.3m
dee
p
Sing
le
piec
e of
w
orke
d fli
nt13
488
135
133
Fill
of tr
ough
C.8
83
Fria
ble
grey
sand
y sil
t with
cha
rcoa
l an
d sm
all s
tone
incl
usio
ns 0
.19m
de
ep13
588
136
134
Fill
of tr
ough
C.8
83
Loos
e re
d/bl
ack
gritt
y sa
nd w
ith
iron
pann
ing
and
smal
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns 0
.04m
dee
p13
688
137
135
Fill
of tr
ough
C.8
83
Loos
e m
ediu
m to
dar
k gr
ey si
lty
clay
with
bur
nt st
one
and
char
coal
in
clus
ions
0.2
2m d
eep
137
8813
813
6Fi
ll of
trou
gh C
.88
3Lo
ose
wet
bro
wn
orga
nic
laye
r w
ith c
harc
oal a
nd w
ood
incl
usio
ns
0.04
m d
eep
138
8813
913
7Fi
ll of
trou
gh C
.88
3Lo
ose
grey
/red
gritt
y sa
ndy
laye
r w
ith 9
0% la
rge
stone
incl
usio
ns
0.18
m d
eep
139
8888
138
Fill
of tr
ough
C.8
83
Loos
e gr
ey b
row
n sa
ndy
silt w
ith
smal
l sto
ne in
clus
ions
0.1
2m d
eep
140
24
Mat
eria
l loc
ated
in sh
allo
w d
epre
ssio
n al
ong
nort
hwes
tern
edg
e of
mou
nd C
.42
Mod
erat
ely
com
pact
dar
k gr
ey
sand
y cl
ay w
ith o
ccas
iona
l sm
all
stone
and
cha
rcoa
l inc
lusio
ns.
1.45
m x
1.3
m x
0.2
m d
eep
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 44
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
141
992
99C
ut o
f driv
en st
ake
loca
ted
on th
e no
rthe
rn si
de o
f pit
C.1
7. O
ne o
f a
num
ber o
f sta
kes a
nd p
osts
surr
ound
-in
g pi
ts C
.8 a
nd C
.17
2O
val c
ut 0
.08m
x 0
.06m
x 0
.12m
de
ep w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e to
p an
d ba
se, v
ertic
al si
des a
nd p
oint
ed
base
.14
214
32
143
Cut
of p
osth
ole
loca
ted
in c
lose
pr
oxim
ity a
nd p
ossib
ly a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
trou
gh C
. 88
2C
ircul
ar p
osth
ole
0.12
m x
0.1
m x
0.
4m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of sl
ope
, ver
tical
side
s and
poi
nted
bas
e.
Sout
h to
nor
th in
clin
atio
n of
axi
s14
314
214
21
Infil
ling
of p
osth
ole
3Li
ght b
row
n sil
ty c
lay
with
no
incl
usio
ns14
4C
ance
lled
cont
ext
145
Can
celle
d co
ntex
t14
614
72
147
Cut
of p
osth
ole
loca
ted
in c
lose
pr
oxim
ity a
nd p
ossib
ly a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
trou
gh C
.88
2C
ircul
ar p
osth
ole
0.1m
x 0
.1m
x
0.24
m d
eep
with
shar
p br
eak
of
slope
, ver
tical
side
s and
poi
nted
ba
se14
714
614
61
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3M
alle
able
bro
wn
silty
cla
y w
ith v
ery
occa
siona
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns14
814
988
149
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
with
in to
p of
cu
t for
trou
gh C
.88,
sugg
estin
g a
sup-
port
ed st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.07
m x
0.
05m
x 0
.2m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e, v
ertic
al si
des a
nd fl
at
base
149
148
148
139
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3Fr
iabl
e br
own
silty
cla
y w
ith n
o in
clus
ions
150
151
8815
1C
ut o
f sta
keho
le lo
cate
d w
ithin
top
of
cut f
or tr
ough
C.8
8, su
gges
ting
a su
p-po
rted
stru
ctur
e of
som
e ki
nd
2O
val s
take
hole
cut
0.1
3m x
0.1
m
x 0.
24m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e, st
eep
sides
and
roun
ded
poin
t, w
ith v
ertic
al in
clin
atio
n of
ax
is15
115
015
013
9In
fillin
g of
stak
ehol
e3
Ligh
t gre
y sa
ndy
silt w
ith o
ccas
iona
l pe
bble
incl
usio
ns15
215
388
153
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
with
in to
p of
cu
t for
trou
gh C
.88,
sugg
estin
g a
sup-
port
ed st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2Su
b-ci
rcul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.07
m x
0.
06m
x 0
.07m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slop
e, st
raig
ht si
des a
nd
poin
ted
base
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 45
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Con
text
#G
rid
Fill
ofFi
lled
wit
hA
bove
Bel
owB
asic
Int
erpr
etat
ion
Phas
eB
asic
des
crip
tion
Art
efac
ts
153
152
152
139
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3St
icky
gre
y cl
ay w
ith o
ccas
iona
l sm
all p
ebbl
e in
clus
ions
154
155
8815
5C
ut o
f sta
keho
le lo
cate
d w
ithin
top
of
cut f
or tr
ough
C.8
8, su
gges
ting
a su
p-po
rted
stru
ctur
e of
som
e ki
nd
2O
val s
take
hole
0.0
7m x
0.0
5m x
0.
09m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe, v
ertic
al si
des a
nd p
oint
ed
base
155
154
154
139
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3W
et st
icky
gre
y cl
ay w
ith o
ccas
iona
l pe
bble
incl
usio
ns15
615
788
157
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
with
in to
p of
cu
t for
trou
gh C
.88,
sugg
estin
g a
sup-
port
ed st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2O
val s
take
hole
0.1
m x
0.0
7m x
0.
29m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe to
p, v
ertic
al si
des,
grad
ual
brea
k of
slop
e ba
se a
nd ro
unde
d po
int
157
156
156
139
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3M
alle
able
bro
wn
silty
cla
y w
ith v
ery
occa
siona
l peb
ble
incl
usio
ns15
815
988
159
Cut
of s
take
hole
loca
ted
with
in to
p of
cu
t for
trou
gh C
.88,
sugg
estin
g a
sup-
port
ed st
ruct
ure
of so
me
kind
2C
ircul
ar st
akeh
ole
0.08
m x
0.0
8m
x 0.
16m
dee
p w
ith sh
arp
brea
k of
slo
pe, v
ertic
al si
des a
nd p
oint
ed
base
159
158
158
139
Infil
ling
of st
akeh
ole
3So
ft re
ddish
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 46
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
11.3 Appendix 3: Context Register
Find number Period Artefact type04E1119:113:01 prehistoric Flint flake
11.4 Appendix 4: Charred plant remains from Stagpark 3, Co. Cork (04E1119)
By Abigail Brewer
11.4.1 Introduction
This report details the analysis of charred seeds and plant remains from samples taken during excava-tion of a burnt mound, pit and stakeholes excavated at Stagpark 3, Co. Cork.
11.4.2 Methodology
The samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using a simple flotation method. Each sample was saturated in water to allow carbonised plant material to float; this “flot” (the floating material) was then poured into a stack of geological sieves and trapped in the sieve meshes (the small-est measured 250µm). 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. All the samples were initially scanned under low magnification (using a binocular microscope with magnification x10 to x40) to identify the samples with most potential for analysis, the scanning results are listed in Table 1. None of the samples contained the remains of charred seeds.
11.4.3 Results
Four samples were scanned for charred plant remains. Although all the samples contained charcoal no charred seeds were recovered from the site. Charred seeds are consistently absent from burnt mound deposits; several burnt mounds excavated by Eachtra Archaeological Projects have produced little or no macro-plant remains, for example at three burnt mounds excavated in advance of works on the N22 in Co. Kerry (04E0646, 04E0647 and 04E0647ext), all of which produced only negative results. While the debate rages regarding the function of burnt mounds, plant remains studies can only contribute a negative; they were evidently never involved in the processing of cereal foods.
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 47
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
11.4.4 Non-Technical Summary
This report examined the plant remains taken from a burnt mound excavated at Stagpark 3, Co. Cork. There were no charred seeds in the samples, an absence that is consistent in samples of charred remains from burnt mounds.
Table 1: Scanning results from Stagpark 3, Co. Cork (04E1119)
Context S.S. No. Cereals Weeds Charcoal Comments
3 1 **** 17g
3 2 **** 9g
50 3 **** 17g
55 6 **** 20g
Appendix 5: Summary account of site archive
Stagpark 3 04E1119Type Description Quantity NotesContexts Validated contexts from excavation 159
Plans 1:100 plan (sheets) 4 1:50 plan (sheets) 61:20 plan (sheets) 0
Sections 1:20 sections and profiles (Sheets) 5
Matrices 1 Full site matrix Photographs 51 Two rolls of filmRegisters Context 1
Photograph 1Drawing 1Finds 1Samples 1
Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/04e1119-stagpark3/ 48
Stagpark 3, Co. Cork - N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road04E1119 ISSUE 10: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
11.6 Appendix 6: Dissemination Strategy
PublicationsExcavations 2004 Text submitted January 2004 Publication pendingNRA publication Text submitted February 2006 Publication pendingPresentation Lecture given to Mitchelstown and Mallow Historical Societies May & October 2005
Overview of the Scheme was given to the IAI conference in Cork April 2005
It is the right of Cork County Council (the Council) to fulfil some or all of the stated publication requirements, either in part or in full, should it so decide, and that copyright is aggisned to the Council in order that it may make such information available to the public.
It is the right of Cork County Council (the Council) to fulfil some or all of the stated presentation requirements, either in part or in full, should it so decide.
11.7 Appendix 7: Programme Schedule Dates & Deliveries
Phase 1 testing June 2004Phase 2 resolution Duration of excavation 13th Sept-14th Oct & 29th Nov-8th Dec 2004Phase 3 post-excavationPostex Assessment & Stragegy Document submitted to Cork County Council March 2005Interim Excavation Report Report submitted to Cork County Council August 2005Final Excavation Report Report submitted to Cork County Council March 2006Publications Excavations 2004 Summary submitted January 2005NRA Monography Summary submitted to Cork County Council February 2006