EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Cork
Barrees Valley, Co. Cork
Early Medieval Unenclosed Settlement
Grid Ref: V68004700 (06800/04700)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: 02E0914
Excavation Duration/Year: 2002; 2003
Site Director: W. O'Brien (University College Galway)
A research programme was conducted by UCG in the Barrees valley, north of Castletownbere
in the Beara Peninsula of County Cork in 2002 which sought to examine the use of upland
environments in late prehistoric Ireland. The excavated sites consisted of two fulachta fiadh ,
two adjacent standing stones and a hut; all dating to the Bronze Age, an early medieval
enclosure and two hut sites and a late medieval charcoal or roasting kiln/pit.
The earliest excavated features consisted of two Bronze Age fulachta fiadh which produced
radiocarbon dates of 3280±30 BP and 2820±35 BP. Two closely set monoliths were
excavated at Site H. Both were originally set upright in shallow subsoil pits and held in
position with large packing stones. Quartz boulder, pebbles and deposits of cremated bone
and charcoal were found in association with the two monoliths. Charcoal, indicating fires
adjacent to the western stone, was radiocarbon dated to 2830±30 BP indicating a late Bronze
Age date (GrN-28306).
Hut site (D) was in a collapsed state and was situated on level ground adjacent to a small
stream. It proved to be a significant dwelling, rectangular in outline with rounded corners and
measuring 6.7m (east-west) by 5.2m externally. The 1.2-1.9m-wide earthen wall survives to
a height of 0.35-0.65m. The exterior of the wall was faced with rough horizontal coursing of
field stones. A horse shoe shaped annexe was attached to the building and contained a
hearth. Charcoal from the hearth was dated to 2465±20 BP, indicating a Bronze Age date for
the house.
A circular stone enclosure (A) measuring 17m in diameter was the initial focus of excavation.
It was defined by a stone wall, 1.2-1.5m wide and contained a single orthostatic entrance. A
series of stony sediment spreads dating to both the construction and the use of this
monument was uncovered beneath the peat in the interior of the enclosure. No post-holes or
other features were uncovered in its interior. A small number of finds were recovered from
the site including early medieval dumb-bell glass beads, stone discs and an iron point. A
radiocarbon dates of peat growth (800± 30 BP indicates that the enclosure was abandoned
by c. AD 1200.
Excavation on Site E revealed a circular hut foundation defined by a 0.8-1.4m-wide collapsed
wall of rough field stones with a 0.7m-wide entrance opening on the northern side. No
interior features were found and the only find consisted of early medieval multi-coloured
bead. Two small charcoal deposits were found underneath the wall stones and were
radiocarbon-dated to 1380±40 BP (GrN-28303), consistent with a sixth to eighth-century A.D.
date range for the bead.
Excavations were also undertaken on Site F. It was a ‘D’-shaped stone wall enclosure built
against the inner face of a large field wall. It measured 4.8m by 2.7m internally and was
defined by a single narrow wall of rough field stones, which was originally up to 0.6m high.
Two low transverse slabs on the south-east side mark the position of a 1.2m-wide entrance.
No interior features were found, with the exception of a spread of charcoal over the floor.
This was radiocarbon dated to 895±20 BP (GrN-28304), pointing to the use of this hut shelter
in the eleventh or twelfth centuries A.D. No finds were recovered.
Site G consisted of an oval depression, measuring 4.4m by 3.3m by 0.3 deep, adjacent to a
small stream. It was revealed as a steep-sided pit with a central depth of 0.55m which
contained a waterlogged peaty fill with preserved branches and twigs, overlying a compact
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