What is recorded here

In 2003, road builders in Kilbrien struck two small circular pits, one barely a metre across and the other smaller still, both packed with charcoal and scarred by intense heat. Stake holes clustered beside one pit, suggesting someone had built a frame or marker around the work. The nearby site dated to AD1420-1640, so these may belong to the same era of rural industry. Imagine a person stacking wood, smothering the flames and waiting for glowing carbon, turning forest refuse into fuel for forges, kitchens or glass workshops. The pits are shallow, but they preserve the patience of that craft: heat controlled, air limited, and patience stretched over hours.

Excavation in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass in 2003 uncovered two circular pits: one (diam. 1m; D 0.1m) and the second (diam. 0.6m; D 0.26m). Three stake-holes were uncovered close to one of the pits. Both pits showed evidence of intense burning and contained layers of charcoal. According to the excavator (Cotter 2006f, 61), these are believed to have been charcoal production pits. This charcoal-making site is probably of a similar date to another one (CO044-088----), situated c. 350m to the NNE, which returned a radiocarbon date of AD1420-1640. (Cotter 2006f, 61) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

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