Archaeological excavation report, 01E1209 Curraheen 1, County Cork

The N22 Ballincollig Bypass scheme involves the construction of a new dual carriageway between Bishopstown (Ballinaspig More townland) and Ovens (Knockanemore townland) and covers an area of 750,000 square metres. A programme of advance archaeological investigation was undertaken prior to construction under licence number 01E0546 and involved excavating a 2m wide test trench along the centre line of the proposed route with offset trenches to the edge of the road-take every 25m on alternate sides. In addition to the five sites of archaeological potential identified through the archaeological impact assessment, eleven sites identified during the course of this investigation were subsequently excavated. During this testing, an archaeological site was exposed at Curraheen townland which was designated as Curraheen 1. The subsequent excavation, under licence no. 01E1209, revealed a multi-phased site with remnants of human activity dating from the Neolithic onwards. The Early Medieval period was the age best represented with many of the features within the site being associated with a conjoined ringfort. The larger of the two enclosures contained the remains of an oval house and other settlement evidence while the smaller enclosure may have functioned as an animal compound. Analysis of environmental samples associated with this phase of the site revealed charred seeds of oats, barley and wheat. Fragments of cremated human and animal bone were retrieved from a small number of features associated with this phase of the site. As quarrying and other activities led to the destruction of much of the site, its true extent could not be determined. Trace elements of a possible Beaker settlement were also uncovered with a number of pits and post/stakeholes pertaining to this period having been excavated within the southeast quadrant of the site. The associated Beaker assemblage consisted of pottery, a thumbnail scraper and other lithics. Analysis of charcoal retrieved from the site revealed that a wide variety of wood species were exploited. Carbon dating of eleven samples returned a Beaker, Bronze Age, two Iron Age and six Early Medieval dates as well as a medieval date. The finds retrieved from the site composed of prehistoric pottery, both Neolithic and Beaker, chipped and ground stone artefacts, a fragment of a stick pin as well as various iron objects. NOTE: THE GRID REFERENCES GIVEN IN THE REPORT ARE INCORRECT, CORRECT GRID REFERENCES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE METAD