Charcoal-making site in Mondaniel

Excavation in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass in 2003 uncovered four pits: one circular pit (diam. 1.2m; D 0.15m), an oval pit (1.75m x 0.57m; D 0.21m), a subcircular pit (1.2m x 0.88m; D 0.05m) and another circular pit (diam. 0.45m; D 0.07m). All the pits showed visible signs of burning and all contained varying amounts of charcoal. According to the excavator (Cotter 2005b, 12), the size and morphology of the smaller pit, and the intense burning at its base, suggests it may have been a bowl furnace, though no definite evidence of smelting was recovered. However, all of the pits were interpreted as charcoal production pits (ibid.). A number of post-holes were also excavated in the area, though these did not form any coherent pattern. A radiocarbon date of AD 1280-1420 cal. was returned from a charcoal sample taken from the lower fill of the first circular pit. (Cotter 2005b; 2006h, 69-70). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009