What is recorded here

In 1946, excavation at Inchigaggin revealed a hidden circular platform where people had piled scraped earth to create a temporary home above the marsh. They built shallow hearths, drove at least one post into the ground, and left behind flints, iron fragments, and glazed pottery before departing. The site vanished without a visible trace, preserving only the memory of seasonal life sustained on a natural sand and gravel bed near the River Lee.

In low-lying marshy ground, c. 330m S of river Lee. Prior to excavation (Hartnett 1946, 126-136) site was 'raised, roughly circular area about 60' in diameter averaging 3' over the mean level of the surrounding field'. There was no bank but 'a slight dishing towards the centre'. Excavation revealed a natural undisturbed platform of sand and gravel under an old turf line. Atop this, an uneven layer of trampled clay and gravel coveredby an other layer of turf and humus. Evidence for habitation was three open hearths (shallow pockets of ashes and charcoal containing burnt bone) and 'at least one undeniable posthole'. The excavator concluded that the natural platform was adapted for casual habitation by 'piling upon it material scraped up from the ground outside' and that 'the habitation of the site was seasonal and of brief duration'. The finds included several flints, lead, glass, iron-slag, glazed pottery (17th century +) and iron fragmentsbut were 'useless as dating criteria'. A causeway or road approaching site rom W was found to be unassociated with it. No visible surface trace. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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