Habitation site in Curraheen (cork By., Inishkenny Par.)

Excavation in 2001 in advance of the construction of the N22 Ballincollig Bypass revealed a multi-phased settlement comprising two main phases of activity, the first in the Late Neolithic/Beaker period and the second in the early medieval period. A small number of Neolithic artefacts were retrieved from a number of deposits located throughout the area while the features of Beaker origin appeared to be localised to the mid-eastern quadrant of the excavated area with a scattering of associated features present to the S and SW. With the exception of a chert thumbnail scraper and some flint debitage, pottery sherds accounted for all of the Beaker-associated artefact assemblage that was contained within two separate features. Over forty sherds of Beaker pottery, flint debitage and charred seeds were recovered from a single pit. Charcoal from this pit was dated to 2580-2200BC. Three Beaker vessels were represented: two fine and one domestic vessel. Sherds from a second domestic Beaker vessel were retrieved from a post-hole. Grogan and Roche have suggested that the Curraheen assemblage should date to c. 2300-2200 BC (Danaher and Cagney 2004b, 28). The most substantial features excavated were two enclosing adjacent fosses. The larger of the two enclosures would appear to have been the settlement area with the smaller enclosure functioning as an animal compound. Radiocarbon dating revealed that both fosses were contemporary and of early medieval date, AD 400-900 (ibid., 18). Three features were present in the interior of the smaller enclosure, while over 100 features were found in the larger enclosure. These features consisted mainly of post-holes, stake-holes and pits, with at least one hearth and two linear anomalies. An post and wattle oval house (c. 8m E-W; 6m N-S) was visible in the NE quadrant of the larger enclosure. A possible outhouse or storage unit was also identified. Excavation of the features within the habitation site suggest that they would have formed part of a ringfort, with an adjoining animal compound (ibid., 26). Dating showed that both fosses were contemporary and that the ringfort was not in use for a long period of time (ibid., 34). Excavation also revealed features dating to the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval periods. (Danaher 2004n, 74-6; Danaher and Cagney 2004b) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009