Metalworking site in Cullen

Within the NE quadrant of an ecclesiastical enclosure (CO098-037001-). Archaeological testing in advance of the construction of a dwelling-house was undertaken in 2002 and uncovered a metalworking area. A subcircular pit (1.8m x 1m; D 0.16m) was exposed in an extension to one of the test-trenches (3), which was located 7m S of the bank of the ecclesiastical enclosure. The pit was filled with burnt soil, stones and a large amount of metal slag, with traces of burnt clay, charcoal and evidence of vitrification. This pit was not excavated. To the NW of this pit three other possible pits were visible as subcircular burnt areas (diam. c. 0.5m). These were also not excavated but, according to the excavator (Ní Loingsigh 2002b), they appeared to be filled with burnt material containing slag, similar to the fill of the large pit. The site of the proposed dwelling was subsequently moved 5m to the SW to avoid any disturbance to the pits. During monitoring of groundworks for the construction of the house in the new location another possible pit (diam. c. 1.2m) was recorded NE of the house and directly to the SW of the previously recorded pits. These pits were not excavated as they would not be affected by the construction or landscaping work. Three possible furnace bases (av. diam. 0.3m; max. T 0.9m) all similar in size and appearance and comprising lumps of metal slag with curved bases and burnt material were recovered from the topsoil. There is a possible burnt mound (CO098-037005-) c. 65m to the W. (Ní Loingsigh 2004, 74; 2002b) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009