Excavation

Excavation of deposits during the initial stages of the monitoring programme for the N22 Ballincollig Bypass revealed the remains of three Bronze Age pits, adjacent to and post-dating a Neolithic House (CO073-120----). The pits, which contained charcoal and fragments of heat-shattered stones, were situated less than 5m to the W of the house. The most southern pit (L 1.85m; Wth 1.8m; D 0.03m) contained charred hazelnut shells but had no evidence of in situ burning. Less than 1m to the N was the largest pit (L 2.7m; Wth 2.1m; D 0.75m) which again had no evidence of in situ burning. The third pit (L 1.53m; Wth 1.2m; D 0.25m) truncated the S slot-trench of the Neolithic house. The excavator concluded that these pits may have been used in the preparation or cooking of food. The pits are of Bronze Age date (1415-1055 cal. BC). (Danaher 2003b, 35; 2004b, 60) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009