1. Eachtra JournalIssue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237] Archaeological Excavation Report E2426 - Gortnahown 2, Co. Cork Prehistoric Activity and Early Medieval Settlement Site with Iron Working

2. EACHTRAArchaeological Projects Archaeological Excavation ReportPrehistoric Activity and Early MedievalSettlement Site with Iron WorkingGortnahown 2Co CorkMay 2011 Client: Cork County CouncilProject: N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown E No: E2426Excavation Director: Julianna ODonoghueWritten by: Jacinta Kiely and Julianna ODonoghue 3. Archaeological Excavation ReportPrehistoric Activity, Early Medieval Roundhouses and IronWorking, and Medieval Structures Gortnahown 2 Co Cork Excavation Director Julianna ODonoghue Written ByJacinta Kiely and Julianna ODonoghue EACHTRA Archaeological Projects CORK GALWAY The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galwaytel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: info@eachtra.ie tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: galway@eachtra.ie 4. Eachtra Archaeological Projects 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork Set in 12pt GaramondPrinted in Ireland 5. Table of Contents Summary v Acknowledgements vi1 Scopeoftheproject 12 Routelocation 23 Receivingenvironment 24 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground 45 SiteLocationandTopography 126 Excavationmethodology 127 Excavationresults 14 Areas1and214 Area345 Area447 Area5 488 Discussion589 References 63Appendix1 StratigraphicIndex66Appendix2 StratigraphicMatrix146Appendix3 GroupsandSubgroups 151Appendix4 FindsRegister196Appendix5 LithicsReport202Appendix6 PotteryReport 214Appendix7 ArchaeometallurgyReport222Appendix8 PlantRemains287Appendix9 AnimalBoneReport296Appendix10 FindsCatalogue297 i 6. List of Figures Figure1:TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnance SurveyDiscoverySeriesmap 3 Figure2:TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainonthefirstedition OrdnanceSurveymapCO010,011,019,020,027and028 5 Figure3:TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmap CO010, 011, 019, 020, 027 and 028 The map is based on the second edition OrdnanceSurveymaps10 Figure4:Post-excavationplanofAreas1-5 13 Figure5:Post-excavationplanofAreas1and2 15 Figure6:Post-excavationplanofLateNeolithic/EarlyBronzeAgeactivityatGortnahown 16 Figure7:Sections3,9and12ofditchesC15andC42inAreas1and221 Figure8:Post-excavationplanofStructuresAandBinAreas1and223 Figure9:SectionsofslottrenchC527StructureAandC592andC644StructureBandPit C505ininteriorofStructureAandsectionsofpitsC542,C587andhearthC567 northofStructureC26 Figure10: Post-excavationplanoftheworkshopStructureD,themetal-workingareatothe northandtheditchC54030 Figure11: DistributionofslagandbrazingshroudresiduesinArea1and2Thenumbers illustratedontheplanarethecutnumbersoftherespectivefeatures 31 Figure12: SectionsofcharcoalproductionpitsC771andC778andpitC73834 Figure13: SectionsofsmeltingfurnaceC566andpitC622inworkshopStructureD35 Figure14: Post-excavationplanofwesternsectionofsite37 Figure15: Portionof1steditionOSand25inchmapshowingthelineoftheditchesinArea 1and2Gortnahownonthe1steditionOSmapandthe25inchOSmapsTheN8 istheroadbuiltinthe1960s 41 Figure16: Post-excavationplanofArea342 Figure17: Post-excavation plan of Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age activityinArea343 Figure18: SectionsofpitsC1055andC1043inArea344 Figure19: Post-excavationplanofArea447 Figure20: Post-excavationplanofStructureAandassociatedpitsinArea549 Figure21: SectionsofslotsC1269andC1271andpitC1294inArea550 Figure22: Post-excavationplanofStructureBinArea551 Figure23: Sherds of Early Neolithic pottery (a) E2426:1105:1 and (b) E2426:1054:6, both fromVessel4andtwosherdsofBeakerpotteryVessel8(a)E2426:1007:2and(b) E2426:1007:355 Figure24: TopographicalmapshowingthelocationofGortnahown1E2423,Gortnahown 2E2426andGortnahown3E247759ii 7. List of PlatesPlate1:ViewofGortnahown2Areas1and2fromNW 12Plate2:PitsC68andC62andstake-holesC82andC83adjacenttohearthC65fromSE 17Plate3:FlintcoreE2426:58:14 17Plate4:HearthC145andassociatedpitsfromE 18Plate5:HearthC4andpitC7fromE 19Plate6:FlintscraperE2426:663:120Plate7:ExtentofditchC15/C45withtreesmarkingthelineofdemolishedbankfromS20Plate8:ViewofStructuresAandBandassociatedpitsfromSW22Plate9:ViewofStructureAfromE24Plate10: ViewofStructureBfromNW27Plate11: IronknifeE2426:590:127Plate12: PitstoNEofSturcturesAandB,hearthC567andpitC682inforeground28Plate13: HammerstoneE2426:666:1frompitC68229Plate14: FragmentofbrazingshroudwithdetailofclothimpressionE2426:539:8532Plate15: StructureDinMetalworkingarea,pitsC545,C566,C548,hearthC575,andslot C586fromENE33Plate16: InteriorofStructureD,hearthC575andpitsC545,C566andC548fromNE33Plate17: IronbladeE2426:537:435Plate18: IronbladeE2426:576:235Plate19: Post-excavationofpitC77836Plate20: ViewofgullyC228fromS38Plate21: ViewofexcavationandillustrationofgullyC228fromN39Plate22: PitC118withstakeholesinthebase39Plate23: PitC1066andassociatedpost-holesinArea3fromNW46Plate24: StructureAArea5fromSE48Plate25: ViewofpitsC1363inforeground,pitC1294inbackgroundandpitsC1254and C1252torightinArea5fromN51Plate26: NorthernwallofStructureBArea552Plate27: ViewofStructureBfromSW52Plate28: FlintendscraperE2426:539:153Plate29: FlinthollowbasedarrowheadE2426:1:853Plate30: Group of macro stone tools from Gortnahown including rubbing stones and hammerstones54iii 8. List of Tables Table1 Dimensionsofmainentranceandroofsupportpost-holes25 Table2 Dimensionsofmainpost-holesinthefoundationtrench28 Table3 Dimensionsofpost-holesStructureC29 Table4 DimensionsofhearthsinStructureDassociatedwithmetalworking33 Table5 DimensionsoffurnaceandpitsnorthofStructureDassociatedwithmetalworking38 Table6 Radiocarbondates57iv 9. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/SummaryThe site at Gortnahown was divided into five separate cuttings. Areas 1 and 2 comprisedone cutting. Area 3 was located 80 m to the south-west. Area 4 was located 110 m south-west of Area 3 and Area 5 was located 65 m south of Area 4. Areas of activity centred onhearths were dated to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period. One of the hearth-sidegroups was associated with flint knapping. Two substantial roundhouses and two ancil-lary structures, including a workshop were dated to the early medieval period. Evidencefor all phases of metalworking including the manufacture of bronze coated iron bells wasrecorded at the site. The area was enclosed by a ditch in the medieval or post-medievalperiod.Evidence for Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age occupation wasrecorded in the form of a number of pits and post-holes in Area 3. Post-medieval pits andditches were recorded in Area 4. The truncated remains of two possible medieval housesand a number of pits were recorded in Area 5.Road project name N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown BypassSite name Gortnahown 2Ministerial Order no. A040E no. E2426Site director Julianna ODonoghueTownlandGortnahownParishGlanworthBaronyCondons & ClangibbonOS Map Sheet No.CO019National Grid Reference 180851 109592 -181006 109775 v 10. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportAcknowledgementsThe senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation managers were PennyJohnston and Jacinta Kiely. Administration of the project was by Choryna Kiely and Fio-na Greene. Illustrations are by Ben Blakeman, Enda OMahony and Maurizio Toscano.Photographs are by John Sunderland, Hawkeye and Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Spe-cialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Farina Sternke, HelenRoche and Eoin Grogan, Tim Young and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queens UniversityBelfast. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Develop-ment Plan 2007-2013 and was commissioned by Cork County Council on behalf of theNational Roads Authority. The project archaeologist was Ken Hanley.vi 11. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/1 Scope of the projectThe archaeological works associated with the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass wascarried 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 theNational Development Plan 2007-2013. The total archaeological cost was administeredby the National Roads Authority through Cork County Council as part of the Author-itys commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeologicalservices project was to conduct archaeological site investigations within the lands madeavailable, to assess the nature and extent of any potential new sites uncovered and topreserve by record those sites of agreed archaeological significance, as approved by theDepartment of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in consultation with theNational Museum of Ireland. Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in October2005 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 forany previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to testsites 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 sitesidentified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the constructionof 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 licencesissued by DoEHLG. A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of theproject to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work arisingfrom 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 theworks. The document detailed the location of the route, the receiving environment, thearchaeological and historical background, the scope of the project and the circumstancesand scope of fieldwork. The document presented a scheme-wide summary of the archaeo-logical findings, a research framework within which the findings were dealt with and apublication plan and dissemination strategy for the end results. 1 12. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEport2Route locationThe route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road is located in the rich pastureland ofNorth Cork (Figure 1). The project involves the construction of c. 16 km of the N8 fromGortore north of Fermoy to Carrigane north-east of Mitchelstown. The N8 Fermoy toMitchelstown road passes through the townlands of Gortore, Ballynacarriga, Glenwood,Ballinglanna North, Ballinrush, Caherdrinny, Gortnahown, Ballybeg, Turbeagh, Glena-tlucky, Ballynamona, Kilshanny, Corracunna, Kildrum, Garryleagh, and Carrigane. Thetownlands are located in the parishes of Kilcrumper, Glanworth and Brigown and Baronyof Condons & Clangibbon, with the exception of Gortore, and Glenwood, which arelocated in the Barony of Fermoy.The route begins at the northern end of the Fermoy Bypass at Gortore, c. 2km northof Fermoy, and continues northwards across the River Funshion, and to the west of theGlencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion, for 4 km. At Caherdrinny, it crosses overthe western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains. From there it descends north-east-wards onto the broad plain that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown. Itcrosses the existing N8 at Gortnahown and passes to the east of Mitchelstown, crossingthe R665 Mitchelstown-Ballyporeen road and links up with the N8 Cashel MitchelstownRoad at Carrigane south of Kilbeheny and 2 km west of where the borders of the Cork,Limerick and Tipperary counties meet.3Receiving environmentThe 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 ofthe rocks are mainly of glacial origin deposited by glacial ice or meltwater (Sleeman andMcConnell 1995, 1).The landscape of the area is dominated by the Galtee Mountains to the north, theBallyhoura Mountains to the north-west, the Kilworth Mountains to the east and theNagles to the south. The landscape is drained by the Blackwater River, the FunshionRiver (which flows into the Blackwater River c. 2 km north-east of Fermoy), and theGlencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion River. The largest population centres inthe area, Fermoy and Mitchelstown, have developed on the banks of the River Blackwaterand 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 thewestern extremities of the Kilworth Mountains, before descending onto the broad plainthat that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown, at an elevation of 100-120m OD.2 13. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/N DerryDonegal AntrimTyrone Leitrim FermanaghArmagh Down Sligo CavanLouthGarryleagh 1 Carrigane 1 Mayo Roscommon Longford E2433E2434 MeathWestmeathDublinGal ayw OalyKildareLaois Wicklow ClareKildrum 1CarlowE3971 Tippeary r KilkennyLimerick WexfordKilshanny 3 Kerry N8WaterfordE2432CorkKilshanny 2E2431 Ballynamona 2Kilshanny 1 E2429E2430Ballynamona 1Glenatluckly 1E2428E2427 Gortnahown 3 E2477Gortnahown 1E2423 Gortnahown 2E2426 Gortnahown 4 E3832Caherdrinny 3E2422Caherdrinny 2E2421Caherdrinny 1E2420Ballinrush 1E2419Ballinglanna North 5E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417Ballinglanna North 3E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972 Ballinglanna North 2 E2415 Ballinglanna North 1 E2414 Ballynacarriga 3 E2412Ballynacarriga 2E2413 Ballynacarriga 1 Key E2411 Post MedievalGortore 1BE2410 Early MedievalGortore 2 Prehistoric Site E3973 Prehistoric Settlement Site Burnt Mound Non-archaeological 0km2km Townland BoundariesFigure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscoverySeriesmap3 14. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEport The soils on the southern portion of the route are characterised by acid brown earthsderived from mixed sandstone and limestone glacial till. These soils occur generally inthe valleys of Cork and Waterford (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 61), and have a wide userange, being suitable for tillage and grass production. The soils on the western limits ofKilworth Mountains are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone. Thesoils on the northern portion of the route are characterised by brown podzolics derivedfrom sandstone and shale glacial till. They have a wide range of potential uses and are wellsuited 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 occasionaltillage field.4Archaeological and historical backgroundArchaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the newroad (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. AD500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to 1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 tothe present).A number of Giant Irish Deer (Megaloceros giganteus) skulls, large antlers, antler frag-ments and various long-bones were retrieved from the clay sediments, c. 1.5 m below thepeat 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 separateperiods in the Pleistocene (from 37,000-32,000 BP and 11,750-10,950 BP), with examplesfrom lake deposits beneath peat bogs frequently dating to the period between 11,750 BPand 10,950 BP (Woodman et al. 1997). The Ballyoran Bog examples were found in thistypical location of lacustrine (lake ) sediments beneath peat and they therefore pre-datethe 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 inBallynamona (CO018-099) and Wallstown (CO018-100) on the northern and southernsides 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, theseincluded; Rath-healy 3 03E1678 and Curraghprevin 3 03E1138 (N8 Rathcormac Fermoy4 15. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/N DerryDonegalAntrim Tyrone Leitrim Fermanagh Armagh Down Sligo Cavan Garryleagh 1 Carrigane 1 Louth Mayo Roscommon LongfordE2433E2434MeathWestmeath DublinGal ayw Oaly Kildare Clare Laois Wicklow Kildrum 1Carlow E3971 Tippeary rKilkennyLimerickWexfordKilshanny 3 Kerry N8WaterfordE2432Cork Kilshanny 2 E2431Ballynamona 2 Kilshanny 1E2429 E2430 Ballynamona 1 Glenatluckly 1E2428 E2427 Gortnahown 22GortnahownE2426 E2426 Gortnahown 1 Gortnahown 3 E2423E2477 Gortnahown 4 E3832 Caherdrinny 3 E2422 Caherdrinny 2 E2421Caherdrinny 1E2420 Ballinrush 1 E2419Ballinglanna North 5E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417Ballinglanna North 3E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972 Ballinglanna North 2 E2415 Ballinglanna North 1 E2414Ballynacarriga 3E2412Ballynacarriga 2E2413Ballynacarriga 1Key E2411Post Medieval Gortore 1BEarly MedievalE2410 Gortore 2Prehistoric Site E3973Prehistoric Settlement SiteBurnt MoundNon-archaeological 0km2km Townland BoundariesFigure2: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ordnance Survey map CO010,011,019,020,027and0285 16. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportBypass), 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 atGortore E2410 and at Caherdrinny 3 E2422 and Mesolithic stone tools were recoveredfrom Ballinglanna North 1 E2414, Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 and Ballinglanna North6 E3972.Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the begin-nings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became moresedentary in nature. A substantial Neolithic settlement site has been recorded at LoughGur, 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 theconstruction 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 burialgraves and stone circles. Megalithic tombs can be sub-divided into court tombs, portaltombs, passage tombs and wedge tombs. There are few wedge tombs or stone circlesknown 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 atManning (CO027-091) both located c. 4 km west of the N8.Recent infrastructural work on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy and the BallincolligBypass 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 roadand another Neolithic house was excavated at Barnagore (02E0384), along the route ofthe Ballincollig Bypass. Both of these Cork examples produced essentially the same ra-diocarbon 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 town-land (05E0078), located c. 3 km to the south of Gortore, produced 12 sherds of a MiddleNeolithic 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 Gortore1b (E2410), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416) and Caherdrinny 3 (E2422). A large enclosurecontaining several structures associated with Late Neolithic pottery was excavated at Bal-lynacarriaga 3 (E2412). Activity dating to the Neolithic was also recorded at Ballynamona1 (E2428), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), and Gortnahown 2 (E2426) and Gortore 2 (E3973).6 17. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500BC)The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase insettlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold itemsmanufactured. 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 areknown. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh; over 2,000 exampleshave been recorded in County Cork alone. These monuments survive as low mounds ofcharcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and generally situated close toa water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as cooking places, whereby stoneswere heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough of water, the water continuedto boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food was cooked within the hot wa-ter. 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 ofMitchelstown, contains 53 small barrows. The Discovery Programme Report 1 (Daly andGrogan 1992, 44) selected four of this group for excavation. Until recently, Bronze Age settlement sites were a rarity in North Cork. A Bronze Ageoccupation 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 atKillydonoghoe 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 con-sisting of three circular enclosures and three circular houses was excavated in 2003 atBallybrowney (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 Mitchel-stown at Kilshanny 1 (E2432) and Ballynamona 2 (E2429). Burnt mounds/fulachta fiadhsites were recorded at Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416), Ball-inglanna North 6 (E3972), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), Caherdrinny 1 (E2420), Kilshanny3 (E2432) and Kildrum 1 (E3971). Two ring ditches and associated cists and pits burialswere recorded at Ballynacarriga 3 (E2412). Portions of several encrusted urns and foodvessels dating to the Early Bronze Age were recorded in association with the burials. Acremation 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 theCork 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 monu-ments of the period. Recent infrastructural work on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass, the N8 7 18. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportGlanmire Watergrasshill Bypass and the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy has altered the pictureconsiderably. Three separate stretches of a linear boundary, the Claidh Dubh, have been recorded inCounty 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 followingexcavation 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 KilworthMountains, c. 700 m to the west of the N8, Corrin (CO035:49/01) is located at the east-ern end of the Nagle Mountains, overlooking a pass between the Blackwater and Brideriver 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 402E1297 on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass; the Iron Age structure at Muckridge 1 01E0429on the N25 Youghal Bypass; iron working sites at Kilrussane 01E0701 and Trabstown01E0501 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, thecorn-drying kiln at Rath-healy 1 03E1139, the burnt mound at Fermoy Wood 04E1014and 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, Ballynacarriaga3 E2412, Gortnahown 1 E2423, Gortnahown 3 E2477 and Caherdrinny 3 E2422. Thesites, with the exception of a single fire pit at Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, did not dateexclusively 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. Thecharacteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6 maps of the 1840s(Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments hasa narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuriesAD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take theform 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 tothe west of the N8 route, in the late 1980s/early1990s. Structural, domestic and industrialevidence was recorded at both sites. A number of stake and wattle round houses, andironworking were recorded in Lisleagh I, which had two phases of occupation, rangingfrom the early 7th century to the 9th century AD (Monk 1995, 105-116).8 19. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Souterrains, frequently associated with ringforts and enclosures, are man made un-derground chambers linked by narrow passageways. The concealed entrance is locatedat ground level. It is thought souterrains were used for storage or places of refuge duringtimes of trouble (Clinton 2001). It has also been hypothesised that some may have beenused for housing slaves.The monastery of Brigown (which gave the name to the modern parish in Mitchel-stown) was founded in the 7th century by Fanahan. Fanahan is reputed to have com-missioned seven smiths to make seven sickles which were used by him for self-mortifica-tion. The new monastery was named, Br Gabhann, for the smiths (Power 1996, 3). Theecclesiastical remains comprise a church, graveyard, holy well and site of round tower(CO019:30/01-05). A possible enclosure site with evidence of metalworking was excavatedby John Purcell in Brigown. This was possibly the enclosure of Brigown. No dates wereobtained from the site (John Purcell personal communication).A ringfort and associated souterrain (CO027-109) were excavated on the route of theN8 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 oftower 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 theGradoge River, to the east of Mitchelstown Castle (Power et al. 2000, 595). The towndeveloped under the patronage of the House of Desmond. It passed into the hands of theEarls of Kingston in the 17th century (Power 1996, 23).The Condon family controlled the barony of Condons and Clongibbon. Two oftheir 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 thenew route. It was built on an outcrop of limestone bedrock. It is a 5-storey tower withassociated bawn wall (Power et al. 2000, 537). Caherdrinny Castle (CO019:97/02) is lo-cated 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 lime-stone cliff overlooking the River Funshion 5 km to the west of the route. The 13th-centuryhall house is associated with a four-sided walled enclosure (ibid. 516).9 20. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportNDerry DonegalAntrimTyroneLeitrim Fermanagh Armagh DownSligoCavan Garryleagh 1 Carrigane 1LouthMayoRoscommon Longford E2433E2434 Meath Westmeath Dublin Gal ay wOalyKildareClareLaois WicklowKildrum 1 Carlow RMP Sheet No. CO10 E3971Tippearyr KilkennyRMP Sheet No. CO11 LimerickWexfordKilshanny 3Kerry N8Waterford E2432 Cork Kilshanny 2 E2431Ballynamona 2 Kilshanny 1E2429 E2430 Ballynamona 1 Glenatluckly 1E2428 E2427Gortnahown 22 Gortnahown E2426E2426Gortnahown 1Gortnahown 3E2423 E2477Gortnahown 4E3832 Caherdrinny 3 E2422 Caherdrinny 2 E2421MP Sheet No. CO19Caherdrinny 1RMP Sheet No. CO20E2420 Ballinrush 1 E2419Ballinglanna North 5E2418 Ballinglanna North 4 E2417Ballinglanna North 3E2416 Ballinglanna North 6 E3972 Ballinglanna North 2 E2415 Ballinglanna North 1 E2414Ballynacarriga 3E2412 Ballynacarriga 2 E2413RMP Sheet No. CO27Ballynacarriga 1Key E2411Post MedievalGortore 1BEarly Medieval E2410 Gortore 2Prehistoric Site E3973Prehistoric Settlement SiteBurnt MoundNon-archaeological0km 2kmRMP Sheet No. CO28Townland BoundariesFigure3: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010,011,019,020,027and 028ThemapisbasedonthesecondeditionOrdnanceSurveymaps10 21. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present).The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). Three de-mesnes 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 early20th 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 de-mesne 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 andsouth of the river Funshion. The house was sold to the British War Office c. 1903 bythe 5th Earls daughter (Bence-Jones 1996, 211). It burned down in 1908 and was neverrebuilt. No trace of it now survives The demesne is clearly defined by woodland on the1841-2 and 1906 edition Ordnance Survey maps, which was most likely enclosed by awall. It is likely that the demesne walls are contemporary with the mansion house andtherefore date to the 18th century. The Cork to Dublin mail coach road originally ran towest 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 townlandto the east of Mitchelstown. The complex of buildings, including a hospital chapel andmortuary, 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 boundarywall and main entrance way survive today (Power 2002, 48).A late 19th century bridge of rubble limestone approached by a causeway at eitherend and carrying 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, butthe bridging structure is not named. The site is named Glencorra Bridge on the 1906Ordnance Survey map. This site is of local architectural significance.11 22. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate1: ViewofGortnahown2Areas1and2fromNW5Site Location and TopographyThe site is located at a height of 120 m OD at the base of the Kilworth Mountains. TheGradoge River, flowing in a north-easternly direction was located to the west and thepresent N8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown was located to the east. A fulacht fiadh was recordedto the immediate north of Area 1 and 2, on the southern bank of the stream. The Fermoy-Mitchelstown road, marked on the 1st edition OS map, was re-aligned in the 1960s. There-alignment destroyed the eastern half of Areas 1 and 2 in Gortnahown. A modern re-cut of the ditch, enclosing the western half of the site, is marked on all editions of the OSmaps.6Excavation methodologyThe excavation was carried out under E-Number E2426 and complied with the methodstatement approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Govern-ment, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The site was mechanicallystripped of topsoil The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeologi-cal 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 multiplelarge tracked machines were used; all stripping operations involved the use of multipledumpers for topsoil mounding. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identifiedarchaeology and continued radially outward until the limit of the road take was reachedor until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in theexcavation area(s) and all archaeological features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded andexcavated so as to enable an accurate and meaningful record of the site to be preserved.12 23. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 180880181020 Areas 1 and 2109780 109780 O )127 m O.D. Area 3 Area 4109560 109560 Area 5 0120 m 180880181020 Figure4: Post-excavationplanofAreas1-5 13 24. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportThe excavation, environmental sampling, site photographs, site drawings, find care andretrieval, on-site recording and site archive was as per the Procedures for Archaeologicalworks as attached to the licence method statements for excavation licences.The site was excavated from 5 February 2007 to 4 May 2007. Only areas within theCPO were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation measured 7279 m2. The sitewas divided into five separate areas: Areas 1 and 2 measured 5046 m2, Area 3 measured1173 m2, Area 4 measured 427 m2 and Area 5 measured 646 m2.The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register (Appendix 1)and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are foundin the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3).7Excavation resultsThe site at Gortnahown was divided into five separate cuttings. Areas 1 and 2 comprisedone cutting. Area 3 was located 80 m to the south-west. Area 4 was located 110 m south-west of Area 3 and Area 5 was located 65 m south of Area 4 (Figure 4).Areas 1 and 2Areas 1 and 2 were bound to the east by the existing N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown whichwas constructed in the 1960s and to the west by an enclosing ditch. This field bound-ary was marked on all editions of the OS map. An area of Late Neolithic/Early BronzeAge (Beaker) activity, two substantial circular houses, an extensive area of metalworking,including a workshop, associated with all phases of iron working dating to the early me-dieval period were partially enclosed by the ditch (Figure 5, Plate 1).Late Neolithic/Early Bronze AgeFour hearths (C.4, C.29, C.65, C.145) in association with pits and post-holes were re-corded in the southern half of the site (Figure 6). Some of the basal fills of the hearthssurvived and the underlying subsoil was heavily scorched. No definite structures could beidentified and larger concentrations of features were associated with two of the hearths.In addition the basal fills of two isolated hearths (C.24, C.36) were recorded c. 10 m tothe west of hearths C.65 and C.145.A group of seven pits (C.52 C.59 C.62, C68, C.93, C.100, C.131 and C.132) and twostakeholes (C.82 and C.83) were clustered together in the south-western section of the site.The group were set around a small area of burnt subsoil (C.65); the base of a hearth andwere associated with flint knapping (Plate 2). The pits ranged in size between 0.44 and0.68m in length, 0.38 and 0.66m in width and 0.09 and 0.36m in depth. They were allsimilar in plan being oval to sub-circular in shape. All the pits, except pit C.68, containeda single sandy silt fill with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal. Flint was recovered fromthe fills of five of the pits (C.52, C.59, C.62, and C.68 and C.132). A knife (E2426:46:1),two flint cores (E2426:46:4 & 5), one flint flake (E2426:46:3) and a piece of flint debitage14 25. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/180987 181022 Fulacht fiadhDS. 13109860109860Areas 1 and 2540DS. 12 784771738769703 75742 760 DS. 11 776 765778DS. 10Metalworking 620611259area 665228 622 545674661660 548586 DS. 9575 566681 777 DS. 8700 599238 191 DS. 7234202 630 188 633 567 623127643 642 231 736542 581 655546 682DS. 6684 136744 524 648224592532 529 552 129 176557699 673 753DS. 572680118735 179 174754716 670 70715385111172Structures38 505531 126527742 717029153145 182 728 156 86 185108 198 9264 6169536815259 62132 9368Late Neolithic100 65131 DS. 4 Early Bronze Age109800109800activity2429 28 30 26 4344DitchesDS. 3 DS. 2 DS. 1154216 34Hearths4 7 35 025 m180987 181022 Figure5: Post-excavationplanofAreas1and215 26. 1809901810201652 59 62 13271 17667391 82 93836568 102 100 114 145 182 131196153 112 113 147115146109105148 109815 109815 149 106103 194199156iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237167108 198 5336 695Late Neolithic Early Bronze Ageactivity 42 109800 1098001524 28 2930 43 Hearths 260 10 m 44180990181020Figure6: Post-excavationplanofLateNeolithic/EarlyBronzeAgeactivityatGortnahownarchaEoloGical Excavation rEport 27. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate2: PitsC68andC62andstake-holesC82andC83adjacenttohearthC65fromSEPlate3: FlintcoreE2426:58:14(E2426:46:2) were recovered from pit C.52. A single sherd of Beaker pottery was recoveredfrom the fill of pit C.52. A total of 24 pieces of flint were recovered from the fill of pitC.59: 14 pieces of debitage (E2426:58:1, 3, 5a&b, 7, 10, 15-22), six flint flakes (E2426:58:2, 17 28. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate4: HearthC145andassociatedpitsfromE4, 9, 12, 13, 23), one scraper (E2426:58:6), two flint blades (E2426:58:8 and 11) and oneflint core (E2426:58:14) (Plate 3). A piece of flint debitage (E2426:60:1) was recoveredfrom pit C.62, a knife (E2426:63:1) was recovered from pit C.68 and two pieces of debit-age (E2426:130:1 and 2) were recovered from pit C.132.A Late Neolithic date of cal BC 2860-2505 (UB-13219) was returned from a fill of pitC.62.A group of nine pits, 11 stakeholes and three linear features surrounding a centralhearth C.145 were located 12 m north-east of the area of flint knapping (Plate 4). Thegroup were closely set around the hearth and may have supported furniture associatedwith the hearth. The pits (C.71, C.91, C.102, C.103, C.108, C.109, C.114, C.146 andC.198) ranged in size between 0.15 and 0.61 m in length, 0.14 and 0.60 m in width and0.03 and 0.25 m in depth. Pit C.146 was located in the centre of the hearth. They were forthe most part similar in plan, being oval and sub-circular in shape. The fills were a mixof clayey silts and sands with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal. The stake-holes rangedin size between 0.05 and 0.15 m in length, 0.035 and 0.10 m in width and 0.03 and 0.22m in depth. Four stake-holes (C.196, C.115, C.105 and C.106) were interspersed between18 29. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate5: Hearth C4 and pit C7fromEthe pits on the eastern side of the hearth (C.145) and five (C.112, C.113, C.147, C.148 andC.149) surrounded pit C.109 to the west of the hearth. The linear features (C.156, C.182and C.194) were located on the outer perimeter of the hearth. A small amount of slag wasrecovered from the fill of pit C.194.An Early Bronze Age date of cal BC 2016-1831 (UB-13217) was returned from the pitC.103. In contrast to the group of pits associated with flint knapping no artefacts wererecovered from this group. The group could represent a palimpsest but it is more likelythat it is the remains of an organised work space associated with food processing.A large rectangular pit C.26, a small pit C.44 and two stakeholes (C.28 and C.30)were associated with hearth C.29. No hearth fills had survived but an area (0.6 m by 0.54m) of subsoil was scorched. Pit C.26 was located on the south-western side of the hearthand measured 2.3 m by 0.72 m by 0.11 m in depth.Hearth C.4 was located outside the line of the ditch C.15. One of the basal fills hadsurvived and an area (1.8 m by 0.7 m) of subsoil was scorched (Plate 5). A small pit C.7was located 2.5 m to the south-east of the hearth. A pit (C.16) was located 9 m to the westand two irregular pits (C.34 and C.35) were located 9 m to the east.At least two isolated features were contemporary with the two hearth groups. A singlepit C.695 was located 24 m east of the flint knapping group. A piece of flint debitage(E2426:696:1) was recovered from the upper fill. A second pit C.673 was located 10 mnorth of the hearth group C.145. The pit measured 1.18 m by 1 m by 0.11 m in depth. A 19 30. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate6: FlintscraperE2426:663:1Plate7: ExtentofditchC15/C45withtreesmarkingthelineofdemolishedbankfromSLate Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint scraper (E2426:663:1 (Plate 6) and a single sherd ofEarly Neolithic Carinated ware (E2426:663:2) were recovered from the upper fill.20 31. Gortnahown 2 Area 1 Ditch Section 3 NW facing section of C.15 and C.42C.1044 C.11C.497Gortnahown 2-E2426 C.55C.101 C.139 C.140 C.42 Gortnahown 2 Area 1 Ditch Section 12Gortnahown 2 SW facing section of C.42Area 1 Ditch Section 9North facing section of ditch C.15 and C.42 C.249 C.246 C.248C.247 C.262 C.15 C.250C.252C.263 C.251 C.267C.264 # C.253 #C.265C.254C.266C.268C.255#C.269# #C.42 C.4210 cm 0 50 cm Figure7: Sections3,9and12ofditchesC15andC42inAreas1and2http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/21 32. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate8: ViewofStructuresAandBandassociatedpitsfromSWFulacht fiadhA large mound of burnt material was recorded in the lower wetter ground to the northof the area of excavation. The mound measured 23.5 m north-south by 20 m east-west.It was located on the southern bank of a tributary of the Gradoge River. The site was notexcavated but was preserved in-situ. The mound of burnt material is probably Bronze Agein date.Enclosing ditchA ditch C.42 enclosed the southern, western and northwestern section of the site andterminated in the lower ground (beyond the area of the excavation) south of the moundof the fulacht fiadh (Plate 7). The relationship between the ditch and the mound of thefulacht fiadh could not be determined as the fulacht fiadh was preserved in situ and theditch appeared to terminate on the edge or to the south of the mound. No trace of theditch was recorded beyond the northern edge of the mound. The ditch measured c. 130 min length and was U-shaped in profile. It was on average 1.6 m wide and 1.15 m in depth.A total of 15 sections were excavated on the circuit of the ditch (Figure 7). The ditch wascut into the underlying clay which overlay the riverine gravel deposits. The depth of theclay and hence the ditch was deepest on the higher ground to the south. A total of 35fills were recorded in the sections of the ditch. Three of the basal fills (C.140, C.216 andC.221) contained large quantities of charcoal. The remainder of the fills accumulated as aresult of colluvial build-up, localised silting and episodes of slumping. The south-western arc of the ditch was re-cut C.15 in the modern period.22 33. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 181016181025630 631 633632 567634623643 636 640581 587 641 642 542 682109825109825547655 546 689652 656 533648524 684 744649532 530552 592 654 529Structure B644 699Structure C557680704 753767754 754670735Structure A 711707716792 668 690 669726793750 712 743 752 751 708672527 505 742730728 702109814109814 573 572 578 579 570 571 659 564 658 0 5 m Hearths 181016181025 Figure8: Post-excavationplanofStructuresAandBinAreas1and223 34. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate9: ViewofStructureAfromEEarly Medieval PeriodTwo early medieval roundhouses, a small post-built shelter and a workshop were exca-vated at Gortnahown (Plate 8). Structure A, the larger structure comprised a circular wallfoundation trench with an entrance located on the eastern side. Structure B was located1.9 m to the north-west, it comprised five post-holes set within a wall foundation trench.The entrance was located on the northern side of the building. Structure C, the post-builtshelter, was located 3 m north-east of Structures A and B. The workshop was located 15m to the north.Structure AStructure A comprised a circular wall foundation trench C.527 with an entrance locatedon the eastern side (Plate 9). The diameter of the house was 7.2 m and the entrance was0.7 m in width (Figure 8). The trench was 21.38 m in length by 0.45 m in width by 0.48m in depth. Ten brown silts fills were recorded in the trench, a small quantity of slag wasrecovered from one of the fills (C.517). A shallow discontinuous trench C.728 extendedfrom the southern side of the entrance for a length of 5.38 m. It was 0.23 m in width by0.13 m in depth. A gully C.754 was located at an acute angle to the NNW line of thefoundation trench. It was 5.73 m in length by 0.47 m in width by 0.165 m in depth. It wascut by a single stakehole C.767.24 35. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/A total of 11 post-holes (C.668, C.669, C.670, C.690, C.702, C.707, C.711, C.716,C.726, C.730 and C.750) were located in the interior. Both ends of the foundation trenchterminated in a post-hole (C.707 and C.726). Two support posts (C.690 and C.711) werelocated to the west of the northern entrance post and one (C.750) to the west of the south-ern entrance post. Four of the postholes (C.670, C.702, C.716 and C.742) provided thesupporting posts for the structure of the roof or an internal loft. They were located c. 1.3m from the foundation trench. ContextDimensions L x W x D (m) C.6700.66 x 0.54 x 0.19 C.7020.36 x 0.3 x 0.19 C.7070.66 x 0.51 x 0.29 C.7160.7 x 0.68 x 0.15 C.7260.66 x 0.47 x 0.39 C.7420.37 x 0.37 x 0.28Table1Dimensionsofmainentranceandroofsupportpost-holes Eight pits (C.505, C.658, C.672, C.708, C.712, C.730, C.792 and C.793) were re-corded in the interior of Structure A. These pits ranged between 0.23-1.60m in length,0.22-0.90m in width and 0.08-0.35m in depth. They varied in shape and contained singlefills generally composed of silty sand or sandy silt with inclusions of pebbles and charcoal.Flint debitage (E2426:794:1) and a sherd of Beaker pottery were recovered from one pitC.793. Two hearths (C.564 and C.570) were recorded in the centre of the structure. In situburning was recorded in the base of both. Tiny amounts of oat and barley were recoveredfrom the fills. Ten stake-holes (C.571, C.572, C.573, C.578, C.579, C.659, C.735, C.743, C.751 andC.752) were located in the interior. Six of these stake-holes (C.571, C.572, C.573, C.578,C.579 and C.659) were located to the east of the hearth C.564 and probably formedhearth-side furniture. These ranged between 0.06-0.095m in length, 0.05-0.09m in widthand 0.08-0.16m in depth. All contained a single fill, generally consisting of dark brownsandy silt with inclusions of charcoal. Three stake-holes (C.743, C.751 and C.752) werelocated close to the entrance. These ranged between 0.07-0.14m in length, 0.06-0.08m inwidth and 0.13-0.21m in depth. Stakehole C.735 was located in the north-east. Two pits (C.557 and C.753) and a slot C.552 were located immediately north of Struc-ture A. An early medieval date of cal AD 664-771 (UB-13215) was returned from the foun-dation trench C.527 and a date of cal AD 660-771 (UB-13256) was returned from thehearth C.564 within the structure.Structure BStructure B was located 1.9 m to the north-west of Structure A (Plate 10). It comprisedthree post-holes (C. 654, C.680 and C.684) and a stake-hole (C.689) set within a wallfoundation trench (C.592). The entrance was located on the north-eastern side of the 25 36. Gortnahown 2 Area 2Gortnahown 2 Area 226 E2426E2426 Structure AStructure B South east facing section of C.527 and C.531 North facing section of C.592 and C.644 C.514 C.590 C.593 C.616 C.531 C.517 C.644 C.527C.639 C.592iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 Gortnahown 2 Area 2 E2426 NW facing section of Pit C.505 C.720# #C.718 # C.719C.505Gortnahown 2 Area 2E2426South east facing section of C.542, C.587 and C.567C.584 10 cm 0 50 cmC.567 C.542 C.587archaEoloGical Excavation rEport Figure9: SectionsofslottrenchC527StructureAandC592andC644StructureBandPitC505ininteriorofStructureAandsectionsofpitsC542,C587andhearthC567northofStructureC 37. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate10:ViewofStructureBfromNWPlate11: IronknifeE2426:590:1building. The diameter of the house was 4.3 m and the entrance measured 2.9 m. Thefoundation trench C.592 measured 8.1 m in length by 0.3 m in width by 0.38 m in depth.Four brown silt fills were recorded in the trench. The eastern terminal of the foundationtrench was cut by a post-hole C.654 and a slot trench C.644 (Figure 9). The slot C.644measured 1.07m in length by 0.18m in width and 0.25m in depth.27 38. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate12:PitstoNEofSturcturesAandB,hearthC567andpitC682inforeground ContextDimensions L x W x D (m) C.6540.78 x 0.66 x 0.25 C.6800.38 x 0.28 x 0.24 C.6840.32 x 0.27 x 0.2Table2Dimensionsofmainpost-holesinthefoundationtrenchA substantial pit C.609 was located in the eastern area of the entrance. It measured 2.1m by 1.7 m by 0.68 m in depth. Ten fills comprised of silts, quite varied in colour, wererecorded in the pit. Two fragments of flint debitage (E2426:617:1 and 705:1) and a flintflake (E2426:705:2) were recovered from two of the fills. The pit was cut at the eastern endby pit C.744. It measured 1.20m in length by 1 m in width and 0.51 m in depth.A single post-hole (C.704) was recorded in the interior of the structure. A small quan-tity of slag was recovered from the fill.An early medieval date of cal AD 593-654 (UB-13216) was returned from the slottrench C.644. An iron knife (E2426:590:1) was recovered from one of the fills (Plate 11).Structure CA small post built structure was located 3 m north-east of Structures A and B. It com-prised five post-holes (C.524, C.529, C.530, C.652, C.699) and five stake-holes (C.533,C.547, C.649, C.655 and C.656) and measured c. 3 m in diameter. It sheltered a hearth28 39. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ Plate13:Hammerstone E2426:666:1 frompitC682(C.648) and two pits (C.532 and C.546). A small amount of slag was recovered from thefill of the hearth C.648. ContextDimensions L x W x D (m) C.5240.21 x 0.18 x 0.2 C.5290.21 x 0.19 x 0.16 C.5300.2 x 0.2 x 0.16 C.6520.2 x 0.18 x 0.17 C.6990.26 x 0.24 x 0.23Table3Dimensionsofpost-holesStructureCA group of three pits (C.542, C.587 and C.682), a hearth (C.567), a slot trench (C.623)and nine stake-holes (C.630-C.634, C.636, C.640, C.641 and C.643) were located 5 mto the north-east of Structure C (Plate 12). A small amount of slag and a hammerstone(E2426:666:1) were recovered from the fills of the pit C.682 (Plate 13). A rubbing stone(E2426:541:1) was recovered from the fill of pit C.542 and a small amount of slag fromthe hearth C.567. Pit C.587 was cut by pit C.542 and hearth C.567. An iron knife blade(E2426:563:1) was recovered from the hearth C.567. Four of the stake-holes were locatedto the north of the slot. The slot measured 3.9 m by 0.22 m by 0.11 m in depth.None of the features could be interpreted as furnaces or smithing hearths but they arelikely to have been associated with the processes of metalworking. 29 40. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEport 769 784771 Charcoal production pit 738 760 757 765776 540703 Smelting furnaceCharcoalproduction pit778674 620 660665 611 661 700622 Smithing hearth 681 548575 545 Smelting furnace566 Structure D586Hearth 777 599 0 5 mFigure10:Post-excavationplanoftheworkshopStructureD,themetal-workingareatothenorthandtheditchC54030 41. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 180990 181023784 540 738703109851109851778 611620661545 622 Areas 1 and 2586674 665 228548 575566681599 238181 567623 682648 129136 529 70472 592118 179 85531172 527702 19486 646162109801109801 15010 m 180990 181023 Figure11:DistributionofslagandbrazingshroudresiduesinArea1and2Thenumbersillustratedontheplanarethecutnumbersoftherespectivefeatures 31 42. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate14:FragmentofbrazingshroudwithdetailofclothimpressionE2426:539:85Metalworking in the northern portion of the siteThree quarters of the archaeometallurgical residues recovered from Gortnahown camefrom this area (Appendix 7). Very few of the residues were insitu. The metalworking wasconcentrated in two areas in the northern portion of the site (Figures 10 and 11). It wasbound by the ditch C.540 to the north-east. The ditch was aligned north-west south-east. It measured more than 25 m in length in the area of the excavation but extendedbeyond the area of excavation to the south-east and north-west. It was 0.6 m wide by 0.68m in depth with sloping sides and a flat base. It contained a single fill. Over 80 fragmentsof brazing shrouds, associated with the brazing or sealing, by copper alloy of iron bells,were recovered from the fill. Almost all of the evidence for large bells comes from this fillincluding six sherds with impressions of fabric (Plate 14). Two rubbing stones and a flintscraper (E2426:539:1, 4 and 5) were also recovered from the fill.The southernmost metalworking area comprised a group of four hearths shelteredwithin a D-shaped workshop (Plates 15 and 16). The workshop measured 6.4 m north-south by 7.2 m east-west. The northern wall comprised a mix of five post-holes, pits andstake-holes (C.611, C.620, C.665, C.661 and C.681). The southern wall comprised a slottrench (C.586) which measured 5.35 m in length by 0.35 m in width and 0.18 m in depth.Over 50 fragments of brazing shrouds and a hammerstone (E2426:585:3) were recoveredfrom the fill. Fragments of brazing shrouds were also recovered from the fills of hearthsC.566 and C.545. Three layers of charcoal and slag separated by layers of clay and a largestone, on the base, were recorded within the central hearth C.575.32 43. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate15:StructureDinMetalworkingarea,pitsC545,C566,C548,hearthC575,andslotC586fromENEPlate16:InteriorofStructureD,hearthC575andpitsC545,C566andC548fromNE ContextDimensions L x W x D (m) Interpretation C.5451.4 x 0.6 x 0.3Possible smithing hearth C.5480.75 x 0.43 x 0.28 Iron smelting furnace C.5660.66 x 0.5 x 0.3 Iron smelting furnace C.5751.02 x 0.5 x 0.25Possible smithing hearthTable4DimensionsofhearthsinStructureDassociatedwithmetalworking33 44. Gortnahown 2 Area 234 E2426 East west facing section of the hearth C.771C.773 C.768C.772 C.773C.774 C.775 C.771Gortnahown 2 Area 2E2426 iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237North facing section of Pit C.738C.733 C.738 Gortnahown 2 Area 2 E2426 South facing section of C.778 C.763C.789C.784C.781C.782C.780C.783 10 cm 0 50 cmC.778 Figure12:SectionsofcharcoalproductionpitsC771andC778andpitC738 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport 45. C.566Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ Gortnahown 2 Area 2 E2426 Gortnahown 2 Area 2 Profile of C.566E2426 Profile of C.622 C.622C.566Figure13:SectionsofsmeltingfurnaceC566andpitC622inworkshopStructureDGortnahown 2 Area 2E2426Profile of C.622C.62210 cm 0Plate17:IronbladeE2426:537:4Plate18:IronbladeE2426:576:235 46. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate19:Post-excavationofpitC778 The two hearths C.548 and C.566 have been interpreted by Tim Young (Appendix 7)as the basal pits of slagpit iron smelting furnaces (Figure 12). The hearths C.545 and C.575were interpreted as possible smithing hearths. Substantial pieces of slag cakes or furnace bottom, which are residues of iron smelt-ing, were recovered from the foundation slot C.586 and the hearth C.545. Three sherdsof crucible were recovered two from fills of the hearth C.545 and the third from the fillof the ditch C.540. A very small quantity of copper-alloy pellets were recovered from thefill of the gully C.540. Most of the brazing shrouds were recovered from the area of theworkshop which would indicate that the process took place within the workshop. Fragments of iron nails, tools, strips and a knife blade (E2426:537:1-4 and 576:1-2)were recovered from the hearth C.566 (Plates 17 and 18). Three iron nails and a strip ofiron (E2426:538:1-2 and 555:1-2) were recovered from the hearth C.545. A large pit C.700 was located 3.3 m west of Structure D and a posthole C.674 to thenorth-west. A group of three pits (C. 738, C.778 and C.784) and two hearths (C.703 and 771)were located 14 m to the north of Structure D (Plate 19). No evidence of a structure orshelter associated with the group was recorded. Slag was recovered from fills of all of thepits and fragments of brazing shrouds from fills of pit C.778 and pit C.784. The hearthC.703 was identified as a slagpit iron smelting furnace. Pits C.771 and C.778 were identi-fied as possible charcoal production pits (Figure 13).36 47. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 180981 180990 42 259 228109835 109835238236 191 188 127 231168166 181136 165 164 22412916317116272160 161 159 118 111 174179 85109816 109816172 3812615 86 92 18564 Hearths 61 0 10 m 81 180981 180990 82 Figure14:Post-excavationplanofwesternsectionofsite 37 48. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport Plate20:ViewofgullyC228fromS ContextDimensions L x W x D (m) Interpretation C.7030.52 x 0.44 x 0.19 Iron smelting furnace C.7711.7 x 1.2 x 0.26 Possible charcoal production pit C.7781.73 x 1.6 x 0.88Possible charcoal production pitTable5DimensionsoffurnaceandpitsnorthofStructureDassociatedwithmetalworking Four pits (C.757, C.760, C.765 and C.776) were recorded to the west of the group. PitC.776 truncated the other three. Pit C.757 was irregular and disturbed by root activity. Two early medieval dates were returned from the pit C.778, cal AD 593-655 (UB-13255) from charred grain and cal AD 428-551 (UB-13218) from oak charcoal.Metalworking in the Western Section of the siteAbout a quarter of the archaeometallurgical residues came from this area. It was recoveredfrom the gully C.228 (Figures 11 and 14) and a series of pits and the base of hearths. Thegully was orientated north-south, almost parallel to gully C.540. It was 23.07m long withan average width of 0.80m and an average depth of 0.35m (Plate 20). The gully began 3.6m to the north of the group of five pits and extended beyond the area of excavation to thenorth. A total of 11 fills and deposits were recorded within the gully. Iron smelting andsmithing slags were recovered from all of the fills. Three insubstantial pits (C.129, C.136and C.238) and three substantial stake-holes (C.168, C.181 and C.231) were recorded inthe gully. Slag was recovered from all the pits. The ditch C.228 was very different to the38 49. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate21:ViewofexcavationandillustrationofgullyC228fromNPlate22:Pit C118 with stakeholes in thebase 39 50. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportditch C.540 which bound the metalworking in the eastern section of the site. It was ir-regular and curving and may have been scoured out over time by water (Plate 20). Theditch C.540 was straighter and deeper.Five pits (C.72, C.85, C.172, C.174 and C.179) were located in an arc to the south ofthe ditch C.228. The pits were shallow and insubstantial but slag was recovered from allof the fills with the exception of pits C.174 and C.179. A rectangular pit C.118, measuring1.83 m by 0.61 m by 0.21 m in depth, was located centrally within the arc. Nine stake-holes (C.159, C.160, C.161, C.162, C.163, C.164, C.165, C.166 and C.171) cut the base ofthe pit (Plate 22). These ranged between 0.05-0.08m in length, 0.03-0.07m in width and0.03-0.10m in depth. The base of a hearth C.111 was located within the arc. The five pitsmay have formed a shelter belt to the south-west of C.118.The truncated remains, in the form of scorched subsoil and the residues of basal fillsof at least five other hearths (C.38, C.61, C.64, C.86 and C.126) were located to the southof the arc. These hearths maybe associated with the different processes of metalworking.Slag was recovered from the fill of hearths C.61, C.64 and C.86. Hearth C.61, in par-ticular, was identified by Tim Young (Appendix 7) as an appropriate size to have been asmithing hearth. No smelting furnace was identified in this area.Modern featuresThe south-western portion of the ditch C.42 was re-cut in the modern period. It is markedas a field boundary on all editions of the OS map (Figure 15). The re-cut C.15 extendedfrom the south-eastern corner of the site to the west edge of the excavation. It then ex-tended along the north-western boundary of the site, though it was not excavated in thisarea. It was broad U-shaped in profile and was on average 3 m in width and 0.6 m indepth, being wider and shallower that the original line of the ditch. The ditch was deepeston the higher ground to the south. A bank was located on the eastern side of the ditch.The surviving section of the bank measured 2.2 m in width and 0.65 m high. The re-cutditch diverged from the primary ditch cut C.42 on the northern edge of the area of exca-vation and seemed to extend eastwards along the line of the break in slope. The possiblecontinuation of this ditch was visible on the eastern side of the present N8 road. A total of20 fills were recorded in the sections of the ditch. The lower fills (C.9, C.101, C.133 andpossibly C.252) represent re-deposited natural from the re-cutting of the ditch. Two areasof limestone metalling were recorded in the upper fills of the ditch and extending beyondthe edges at the north-western corner of the area of excavation. This may have served as acauseway across the ditch. Fragment of 18/19 century glazed red earthenware (E2426:11:2), 19 century pearlware(E2426:11:3, 49:1), 18/19 century black glazed ware (E2426:206:1) and a loom weight(E2426:246:1) were recorded in the fills of the ditch. The partial remains of a sheep wasalso recovered from the fill of the ditch. A field boundary (C.234 and C.531) enclosing an area of 1,780 sq m, within the areaof excavation, was recorded on the eastern side of ditch C.15. It extended beyond the areaof the excavation to the south-east. The northern portion of the ditch C.234 measured 4540 51. Gortnahown 2-E2426 N8 N8") " ) 0 100 Mt Figure15:Portionof1steditionOSand25inchmapshowingthelineoftheditchesinArea1and2Gortnahownonthe1steditionOSmapandthe25inchOSmapsTheN8isthe http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/41roadbuiltinthe1960s 52. 1809201809604211091104 11081134 1047 1133 1132 1117 11011130109011311123 109706 109706 10171140Area 3 1029 113710191037 1112 103010381111 1107 108911001055 1015iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-22371062 10311022 1009 1013 101110011034 1012 104111141043 11271116 1129 109687 109687 105710461049 1021010 m 180920180960Figure16:Post-excavationplanofArea3archaEoloGical Excavation rEport 53. 1091107610901072 1073 108111091104 1082Area 3Gortnahown 2-E242610851108 1086 10831066 10921084108710471074 1075 1134 1088 11331089113211171101 1130112310901131 10171140113710291037 1112 101910381111 1107 10301089 11001055 101505 m Figure17:Post-excavationplanofEarlyNeolithicandLateNeolithic/EarlyBronzeAgeactivityinArea3http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/43 54. Gortnahown 2 Area 344 E2426 South west facing section of Pit C.1055 C.1080 C.1054 iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237C.1093C.1055 Gortnahown 2 Area 3 E2426 South east facing section of C.1043C.1042 C.1035 C.1043 10 cm 0 50 cm Figure18:SectionsofpitsC1055andC1043inArea3 archaEoloGical Excavation rEport 55. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/m in length by 0.95 m in width by 0.13 m in depth. It terminated north of Structure B.There was a gap of c. 3 m between the two segments of the ditch.Area 3Area 3 was located 80 m to the south of Areas 1 and 2. The area comprised a group of 22pits (C.1001, C.1009, C.1015, C.1021, C.1031, C.1034, C.1046, C.1047, C.1055, C.1057,C.1062, C.1066, C.1089, C.1090, C.1100, C.1104, C.1107, C.1112, C.1116, C.1117,C.1123 and C.1137), 12 post-holes and nine stake-holes (Figure 16).Early NeolithicNine of the pits (C.1055, C.1107, C.1111, C.1137, C.1112, C.1123, C.1117, C.1047 andC.1104) and seven post-holes and seven stake-holes were located in the north-eastern sec-tion (Figure 17). Two of the pits (C.1055 and C.1123) were substantial in size (Figure 18).12 sherds of pottery from vessels 4 and 6, Early Neolithic bowls, and one sherd from vessel8, a Beaker pot, were recovered from the upper fill of pit C.1055. Four sherds from vessel7, an Early Neolithic bowl, were recovered from the fill of pit C.1123. The base of the pitC.1123 was scorched. Six stake-holes were located to the north and south of the pit. Fourof the stakes (C.1130, C.1131, C.1133 and C.1134) could have formed a small windbreakor structure over the pit such as a grill or spit.The other seven pits (C.1104, C.1107, C.1047, C.1117, C.1111, C.1112 and C.1137)and a linear C.1038 formed a group to the north and south of C.1123. They ranged insize between 0.42-0.90 m by 0.4-0.72 m and 0.13-0.32 m in depth and were varied inplan. Two post-holes (C.1108 and C.1109) cut the base of pit C.1104. A moderate amountof charcoal was included in the fills of pits C.1117 and C.1137 and the linear C.1038.Sherds of pottery from four Early Neolithic carinated bowls were recovered from four pitsC.1055, C.1107, C.1112, C.1123 and linear C.1038.Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age activityThe majority of the features, clustered in the north-west corner, comprised an area of do-mestic habitation dating to the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. Five of the pits (C.1066,C.1090, C.1089, C.1100 and C.1015) formed an arc in the north-west quadrant. PitC.1066 was circular in plan and measured 0.74 m by 0.73 m by 0.18m in depth. A piece offlint debitage (E2426:1051:1) was recovered from the upper fill of the pit. The base of thepit was cut by four post-holes (C.1083, C.1084, C.1085 and C.1086) (Plate 23). A linearslot extended from the north-western side of the pit. It measured 0.8 m by 0.16 m by 0.03m in depth. Burnt clay and charcoal was included in the fills of the pit, the post-holesand the linear. Four stake-holes (C.1074, C.1075, C.1087 and C.1088) were located onthe south-eastern side of the pit and five stake-holes (C.1072, C.1073, C.1076, C.1081 andC.1082) were located on either side of the slot C.1091. The large rectangular pit C.1090was located to the north of pit C.1066. It measured 2.24 m by 0.42 m by 0.21 m in depth.A sherd of Beaker pottery (E2426:1064:1) was recovered from the fill. The other three pits 45 56. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate23:PitC1066andassociatedpost-holesinArea3fromNW(C.1089, C.1100 and C.1015) were smaller insize and measured between 0.30-0.58 m in length by 0.18-0.40 m in width and 0.10-0.22m in depth. Four sherds of Beaker pottery (E2426:1007:1-3 & 5) were recovered from pitC.1015.Four post-holes (C.1017, C.1019, C.1029 and C.1030) were set in a line, 3.9 m inlength. These may have formed part of shelter, which was open to the north-east. Twopost-holes (C.1101 and C.1037) could have provided the short sides of the shelter, c. 2.6m in length.A sherd of Beaker pottery (E2426:1027:1) was recovered from post C.1030. A Chal-colithic (Beaker) date of cal BC 2564-2310 (UB13220) was returned from charcoal frompost-hole C.1017.There was one isolated pit (C.1062) to the east and eight pits (C.1001, C.1009, C.1031,C.1057, C.1034, C.1046, C.1116 and C.1021) in the southern section of the site. Theyranged in size between 0.31-3.35 m by 0.28 -1.27 m and 0.1-0.39m in depth. They allcontained a single fill with inclusions of charcoal. Three of the postholes (C.1011-C.1013)were interspersed between three of the pits in the south-western corner. It is not know ifthey are associated with the Early Neolithic or the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age phaseof activity.46 57. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 12161212 12141210 1201 1203 Area 4 010 mFigure19:Post-excavationplanofArea4Modern agricultural activityTwo ditches orientated NE/SW and four orientated at right angles were recorded in thearea of excavation. The ditches are the remnants of old field systems and were marked onthe 1st edition OS map.Area 4Area 4 comprised three pits, three shallow ditches and a series of furrows (Figure 19). Noartefacts were recovered from this area. The three pits (C.1204, C.1206 and C.1216) were dispersed across the area of the site.Pit C.1206 was large and shallow, it was truncated by the ditch. It may have been a natu-ral feature. A hearth C.1201 measured 0.97 m by 0.38 m and 0.18 m in depth. The fill wascharcoal enriched and the base was scorched. The three ditches (C.1210, C.1212 and C.1214) were recorded within the area of exca-vation. All contained single fills of a similar composition and iron pan had accumulatedon the bases. They were of a similar width and depth. Ditches C.1212 and C.1210 wereboth orientated NE/SW, while ditch C.1214 was orientated NW/SE. The ditches are theremnants of old field systems and were marked on the 1st edition OS map. 47 58. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate24:StructureAArea5fromSEArea 5The remains of two medieval structures were recorded in Area 5. Structure A was repre-sented by a rectangular cut for a slightly sunken floor delineated by five post-holes on thesouth-east side. No evidence for the north-west wall survived. This could be explained bythe location of the structure on a slope, as the site sloped to the north-west. Two closelyset gullies lay immediately upslope of the structure. Structure B was located 25 m to thenorth-west. It was orientated in the same direction. The floor level was cut into the slopeand the basal remains of three postholes were identified. The north wall comprised 24stake-holes. No evidence of a western wall survived. A gully located immediately upslopeof the structure connected to a large pit/pond to the north.Structure AThe full dimensions of Structure A were impossible to determine but it measured atleast 5 m in length by 4 m in width. The south-eastern side and part of the southernside of Structure A were the only parts to survive. It comprised the rectangular cut of asunken floor (C.1285 and C.1295) and two parallel L-shaped gullies (C.1269, C.1271 andC.1273) to the south-east or exterior (Figure 20, Plate 24). They ranged in size between1.1-7.35 m by 0.16-0.45 m in width and 0.05-0.23 m in depth. Five post-holes (C.1258, C.48 59. Gortnahown 2-E2426 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/ 136613581350 13261254 13511345Area 5 1361 12561252 13631365 1334 134313361294 1332 1293 1330 12921328 1296 133812781316128212951258 1303 1273 1269 1309 1280 13011281 13051285 1275 12661271 1291 Structure A1314Hearths 0 10 mFigure20:Post-excavationplanofStructureAandassociatedpitsinArea51278, C.1281, C.1291 and C.1301) were associated with the cut of the sunken floor. Twopost-holes (C.1275 and C.1305) cut the gullies.A medieval date of cal AD 1053-1251 (UB-13221) was returned from the fill of post-hole C.1258.Interior of Structure AA hearth (C.1280) and at least four post-holes (C.1282, C.1296, C.1303 and C.1309) werelocated in the interior. Post-hole C.1282 was the remains of a double post.A group of six pits (C.1252, C.1254, C.1294, C.1326 and C1343) (Figure 21, Plate 25)and 13 post and stake-holes (C.1256, C.1328, C.1330, C.1332, C.1334, C.1336, C.1350,C.1351, C.1358, C.1361, C.1363, C.1365 and C.1366) were located in a group to the north-west. It is not possible to be certain if any or all were located within or outside the struc-ture. The fills of all of the pits, with the exception of pit C.1343, were charcoal enriched.Tiny flecks of burnt bone, too small to be identified, were recorded in the fills of two pitsC.1252 and C.1254. Five of the posts (C.1328, C.1330, C.1332, C.1334, C.1336) were lo-cated in a line, c. 2 m in length, around the hearth C.1293. They may have functioned asa windbreak or shelter for the pit. The basal fills of two hearths (C.1293 and C.1345) wereinterspersed between some of the pits and post-holes.49 60. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportGortnahown 2 Area 5E2426East facing section of C.1269 and C.1271 C.1270C.1268 C.1271C.1269Gortnahown 1 Area 5E2426South east facing section of slots C.1271 and C.1269C.1270 C.1271 C.1268C.1269Gortnahown 2 Area 5E2526North west facing section of C.1294 C.1250 C.1288C.1294C.1294 10 cm 050 cm Figure21:SectionsofslotsC1269andC1271andpitC1294inArea5 A cache of charred cereals was recovered from the fill of pit C.1254. The majority of the cereals were identified as oats (Appendix 8). A sherd of red earthenware (E2426:1251:1 and 1253:1) 18/19th century in date was recovered from the upper fills of both pits C.1252 and C.1254. Structure B Structure B was located 27 m west of Structure A. The full dimensions of Structure B were impossible to determine but the excavated dimensions of the rectangular structure measured at least 2.5 m in length by 2.5 m in width. The northern wall comprised 29 stake-holes. It measured 2.2 m in length by 0.3 m in width. The stakes may have formed upto four parallel lines. A post-hole (C.1369 and C.1385) was located at either end of the rows of stakes (Plate 26). The cut of a rectangular floor (C.1339) was recorded on the 50 61. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate25:ViewofpitsC1363inforeground,pitC1294inbackgroundandpitsC1254andC1252torightinArea5fromN 140214011399 13961400 1397 1393 1390 1318 1378 14031395 1382 1389 1394 1392 139113811378 1383 1380 1379 1377 138613871376 13741375 1323 13531385 Structure B 1369 1368Area 5 1339 1347 13481373 1349Hearth 010 mFigure22:Post-excavationplanofStructureBinArea5 51 62. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate26:NorthernwallofStructureBArea5Plate27:ViewofStructureBfromSW52 63. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Plate28:FlintendscraperE2426:539:1Plate29:FlinthollowbasedarrowheadE2426:1:8southern and eastern sides. A hearth C.1368 was located close to the south-western wall(Figure 22).A drain or gully (C.1349) was recorded to the south-east or exterior of the structure(Plate 27). Two post-holes (C.1347 and C.1373) and a channel (C.1348) were located be-tween the floor and the drain. The drain was orientated in the same direction as StructureB. The drain C.1349 measured 8.45 m in length by 1.65 m in width by 0.23 m in depth.It was connected to or was cut by the south-eastern side of the large pit/pond.The large pit/pond C.1323 was located to the north of Structure B. It measured 7 min length by 4 m in width by 0.35m in depth. Four fills were recorded in the pond. A pitC.1353 was located within close proximity to the point of entry of the drain into the pit/pond.Fragments of clay pipes (E2426:1319:1 and 2, 1320:1), 11 sherds of modern glass andan unidentified iron object (E2426:1321:1) were recovered from three of the fills of the pit/pond. Fragments of clay pipes (E2426;1340:1), 1 sherd of modern glass and a possible ironnail (E2426:1371:1) were recovered from the fills of the gully C.1349.LithicsThe lithics were examined by Farina Sternke (Appendix 5). The 75 lithic finds from thearchaeological excavation at Gortnahown 2 are 59 flaked pieces of flint, one flaked piecesof rock crystal, thirteen utilised stones of mainly quartzite as well as one natural chunk 53 64. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEportPlate30:GroupofmacrostonetoolsfromGortnahownincludingrubbingstonesandhammerstonesof slate and one natural chunk of flint. The majority of the lithics were recovered fromAreas 1 and 2. The flaked assemblage contains six cores, three blades, thirteen flakes,seven retouched artefacts and 31 pieces of debitage (Plates 28 and 29). The assemblage isdominated by a Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age typological and technological compo-nent which includes a hollow-based arrowhead and micro disc and end scrapers as well asvery small bipolar cores produced on bipolar split pebble flakes.Together with the discarded retouched tools, the recovered cores, flakes, blades anddebitage represent deposited waste (particularly in the pits) from lithic production andthe immediate use of lithic tools at the site, possibly in predominantly domestic activities.The 13 macro tools can be divided into six groups: two possible hammerstones, threepolishing/rubbing stones, four rubbing/hammerstones stones, one rubbing/anvil stone,two utilised stones and a possible loom weight or netsinker. The majority of the rubbingtools may be partially associated with metalworking (Plate 30).PotteryThe pottery was examined by Eoin Grogan and Helen Roche (Appendix 6). Two Beakervessels, 1 and 3, and one Early Neolithic carinated bowl were recovered in Areas 1 and 2.Four Early Neolithic carinated bowls and one Beaker vessel, 4-8, were recovered in Area3 (Figure 23). The pottery is comparable to material from at Gortore 1b E2410, Balling-lanna North 3 E242416, Ballynamona 2 E2429and Caherdrinny 3 E2422.54 65. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Figure23:SherdsofEarlyNeolithicpottery(a)E2426:1105:1and(b)E2426:1054:6,bothfromVessel4and twosherdsofBeakerpotteryVessel8(a)E2426:1007:2and(b)E2426:1007:3ArchaeometallurgyThe archaeometallurgy was examined by Tim Young (Appendix 7). The assemblage is avery significant one with all stages of metalworking represented. Of particular interest isthe assemblage of fragments of brazing shroud. These fragments are from the clay coatingapplied to the iron during the brazing or coating and sealing, by copper alloy, of smalliron bells.The iron-working was concentrated to the north of Structure A and to a much lesserextent in the western section of the site. A workshop and a concentration of large pits, 10m to the north of the workshop, were located north of Structure A.Iron smelting was undertaken in slagpit shaft furnaces. One furnace C.548, locatedin the workshop, was identified with certainty and two probable furnaces were identified,C.566 and C.703, the former sited in the workshop and the latter in the group of pits tothe north. Young suggested that the working dimensions of the smelting furnaces were0.5 m by 0.43 m by 0.25 m on average. These dimensions are quite large and most closelyresemble slagpits of earlier Iron Age date.Smithing hearths were identified with less certainty, two potential examples C.545and C.575 were located in the workshop. The form of the smithing hearths did not cor-respond to a typical early medieval smithing hearth. The smithing at Gortnahown wasdifferent from the specialist bloomsmithing sites as it lacked the large SHCs (smithinghearth cakes). The assemblage resembled the sites interpreted as being mostly associatedwith blacksmithing. Young suggests that the SHCs are generally smaller, than those in- 55 66. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEoloGical Excavation rEportterpreted as being from primary bloomsmithing on other sites, because the smaller bellsrequired a much smaller starting sheet of iron.Two large burnt pits, C.771 and C.778, which may have been charcoal productionkilns, were located in the group of the pits.The discovery of an early bell-brazing operation is extremely significant. The resi-dues of the bell-brazing were only recovered from the northern area of metalworking.The radiocarbon dates from the pit C.778 suggest that the manufacture of small bells atGortnahown took place within the late 6th or the first half of the 7th centuries AD. Thebell-making at Gortnahown is the earliest evidence for bell manufacture in Ireland.Plant remainsThe plant remains were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 8). A total of 204 sam-ples from Gortnahown 2 were scanned. Of these, 35 contained charred seeds. In general,the amounts of seeds found were small, including various types of cereal grains and weedseeds (mostly identified as arable weeds). The cereal grains were primarily oats (89% ofthe entire identifiable cereal assemblage), followed by barley (10%) and wheat (1%). Onlyone of the samples contained more than 50 seeds (C.1253 (S.618)). This sample was from apossible medieval pit in Area 5 and post-dates many of the other samples. The remainingarchaeobotanical samples from the site were characterised by very small cereal assem-blages, with most samples containing just single grains.Animal boneThe animal bone was examined by Margaret McCarthy (Appendix 9). The partial re-mains of an adult sheep were recovered from the fill of a modern field boundary.Modern FindsThe modern finds were catalogued by Sara Camplese (Appendix 10). A variety of claypipes, 18th/19th century pottery, iron nails and glass were recovered, particularly from Area5.CharcoalThe charcoal was examined by Mary Dillon in advance of radiocarbon dating.Radiocarbon datesRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queens UniversityBelfast. 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. 2004.56 67. Gortnahown 2-E2426http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2426-gortnahown2-co-cork/Lab Context MaterialUn-calibrated 13 C CalibratedCalibratedPeriodcodedate 2-sigma date1-sigma dateUB- C.731 Hazel from1298+/-20 -26.7 cal AD 664-cal AD 670- early13215 C.527 Structure725 738-771 695 699-708 medievalA Area 1 and 2 747-765UB- C.590 Pomoideae from1429+/-21 -28.5 cal AD cal ADEarly13216 C.644 Structure 593-654614-645 medievalB Area 1 and 2UB- C.75Pomoideae from3574+/-23 -27.1 cal BC cal BCEarly13217 pit C.103 2016-19961946-1892 BronzeArea 1 and 21980-1879Age1838-1831UB- C.780 Oak from met- 1561+/-22 -27.4 cal AD cal AD 436- Iron Age/13218 alworking pit 428-551490 509-517 earlyC.778529-541 medievalArea 1 and 2UB- C.60Hazel from pit4100+/-27 -27.2 cal BC cal BCLate13219 C.622860-28082838-2815 Neolith-Area 1 and 22755-27202674-2580 ic/Early2703-2572Bronze2510-2505AgeUB- C.1014Hazel from3939+/-27 -27.0 cal BC cal BCEarly13220 posthole C.1017 2564-25332482-2437 BronzeArea 32494-23402420-2404 Age2314-23102378-2349UB- C.1257Willow/poplar 860+/-21-26.5 cal AD cal ADHigh13221 from posthole 1053-10781170-1212 medievalC.1258 Struc- 1153-1225ture A Area 5 1239-12401248-1251UB- C.763 Charred oat 1427+/-22 -25.0 cal AD cal AD13255 and cereal from 593-655614-646 earlymetal workingmedievalpit C.778Area 1 and 2 UB- C.504Charred oat,1303+/-24 -25.8 cal AD 660-cal AD 667- Early 13256barley, cereal726 737-771694 700-708 medievaland hazel from 747-765hearth C.564Structure AArea 1 and 2Table6Radiocarbondates 57 68. iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237archaEoloGical Excavation rEport8DiscussionNeolithic PeriodThe earliest activity at Gortnahown was recorded in Areas 1 and 2 and 3. Sherds of EarlyNeolithic carinated bowls were recorded in association with pits, post-holes and stake-holes in the north-eastern part of Area 3. One of the pits, and associated stake-holes,probably functioned as a hearth but no definite structure could be discerned. A smallassemblage of Early Neolithic pottery, comprised 27 sherds and represented five EarlyNeolithic carinated bowls. A single sherd of Early Neolithic pottery was recovered fromArea 1 and 2 and no features could be assigned to the Early Neolithic Period. The site was occupied again in the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. Sherds of Beakerpottery were recorded. Ten hearths were the focus of activity in the Late Neolithic/EarlyBronze Age period in Areas 1 and 2. The activity was based in the southern section of thesite, two groups of pits were clustered around two hearths. Evidence for flint knappingwas recorded at one of the hearth sites. The lithic assemblage was dominated by a LateNeolithic/ Early Bronze Age typological and technological component. The features in the north-west corner of Area 3 dated to the Late Neolithic (BeakerPeriod). One of the pits, C.1066, may have functioned as a kiln in tandem with stake-holes and four of the post-holes. The base of the pit was cut by four post-holes and a linearslot, extended from the north-western side of the pit. Burnt clay and charcoal was in-cluded in the fills of all of the features. Four stake-holes were located on the south-easternside of the pit and five stake-holes were located on either side of the slot. The 13 stakesand posts may have formed a drying rack or platform c. 2 m in length. No evidence of anenclosing super-structure surrounding the kiln was recorded. But at least six post-holesformed a possible shelter, open to the north-east, to the south-east of the kiln. Four of thepost-holes formed the south-western side of the shelter, measuring 3.9 m in length. Theshort sides of the shelter measured c. 2.6 m in length. Beaker pottery was recovered fromone of the posts and a radiocarbon date of 25642310 BC (UBA-13220) from another. Evidence for Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age activity was also recorded at Gortna-hown 3 E2477 located 120 m to the south-east.Bronze AgeThe unexcavated fulacht fiadh provides evidence that occupation at the site (in Area 1and 2) extended into the Bronze Age. A Bronze Age house was recorded in Gortnahown1 E2423 Area 2 and Middle Bronze Age domestic cordoned urns were recorded in Gort-nahown 3 E 2477. Iron Age dates were recorded at Gortnahown 2 E2423 Area 1 and Gortnahown 3E2477. Domestic activity from the Early Neolithic Period through to the Iron Age was re-corded, over a length of 850 m, along the eastern