Structure in Muckridge

This structure was discovered in 2001 during excavations in advance of the construction of the N25 Youghal Bypasss. It consisted of a U-shaped arrangement of ten post-holes surrounding a hearth and pit. The U-shaped structure (6m N-S x 6m), was open to the E and consisted of a single series of roughly equidistant post-holes (c. 1.8m apart) which were of similar size (av. diam. 0.3m; av. D 0.12m). The post-holes at the SW end of the structure were set closer together, possibly indicating rebuilding. The circular bowl-shaped hearth (diam. 0.7m; D 0.53m) was situated adjacent to an oval stone-lined storage pit (1.6m NE-SW x 1.1m; D 0.45m). A number of pits were found in the immediate vicinity of the structure with one to the E producing a blue-glass bead and fragments of iron slag. A charcoal sample taken from another pit produced a 2-sigma calibration date of AD 20-350. According to the excavator (Noonan 2002a, 4), the layout of the structure seems to indicate that the E side was not walled but rather was left open to the elements. The lack of evidence for settled domesticity suggests that the site was possibly used on a temporary, perhaps seasonal, basis (ibid.). This structure was situated near a pit (CO067-078----), excavated in Muckridge townland in 2001. (Noonan 2002a; 2003b, 53) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009