Mine

On W-facing slope above pasture, 1.7km W of Goleen village. Isolated mine working; discovered 1929 by geologist T.J. Duffy; local tradition of "Danes Shaft". Inclined working driven 060° into upper part of prominent rock scarp; waterlogged infill deposit, not excavated. Probed length 3m plus; entrance (Wth 2m; H 0.5m). Outside entrance, denuded spoil dump spread over 6-8m; stone mauls exposed. (O'Brien 1987) A charcoal sample recovered from a depth of 0.4m within the mine sediment has been radiocarbon dated to 3360±90 BP (GrN-25562). A second charcoal sample from a different spoil layer is dated to 3410±50 BP (GrN-25563). (O'Brien 2002, 40-41). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009