The Project
The N22 Baile Bhuirne–Macroom Road Scheme is a 22 km-long section of national road bypassing the towns of Macroom and Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney) in west County Cork. The scheme passes through the townlands of Slievreagh, Cappagh West, Cappagh East, Killeen, Ballymakeery, Toonlane, Coolnacaheragh, Coolavokig, Lackaneen, Lissacresig, Carrignamaddry, Inchinlinane, Carrigaphooca, Killaclug, Glananarig, Clonfadda, Codrum, Teerbeg, Gurteenroe, Kilnagurteen, Ballyveerane, Coolyhane, Bealick and Ummera. Approximately 189 hectares of land were acquired for construction of the road of which c. 180 hectares was classified as agricultural land. Archaeological investigations on the project were carried out on behalf of Cork County Council under Ministerial Directions (ref. no. A00074).
Geophysical surveys (survey registration nos R000449 & R000450) were carried out at 97 locations along the route in 2017.
For other pre-construction archaeological services contract management purposes the scheme was divided into three contract lots, Lots 1–3. Archaeological test trenching of Lot 3 (comprising the eastern third of the scheme) was carried out by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd (E004900) on behalf of Cork County Council in a single phase (18 September to 18 October, 2017). Separate reports were prepared for townland boundary/architectural heritage survey (S000130) and underwater survey (D000023; R000468).
Features of archaeological potential were identified by testing at a site subsequently designated Kilnagurteen 1 (ITM 532997, 574196). Stage (ii) stripping and cleaning of a 1040 m2 area was carried out between 24–30 November 2017, confirming the presence of suspected archaeological remains.

The Asset
This Stage (iv) Final Excavation Report describes the results of the Stage (iii) pre-construction archaeological excavation, carried out at Kilnagurteen 1 between 19–20 April 2018, under registration number E4972.
The area of excavation measured 1040 m² and revealed the remains of two Middle Bronze Age pits, one of which contained cremated human bone and an unrelated pit associated with agricultural field clearance.
Analysis of 50 charcoal fragments from across both pits shows an assemblage consisting almost solely of oak with ring curvature indicating the felling of whole trees for the provision of funeral pyre timber. A later phase of agricultural activity associated with possible fire-cracking of a large boulder for field clearance is suggested to have used fuel wood resourced from nearby hedgerow communities with an assemblage of mainly blackthorn with willow and probable hawthorn identified in the charcoal analysis of 30 fragments.
The cremated human skeletal remains from the charcoal rich fill cremation pt at Kilnagurteen 1 represented a single individual; identifiable bone fragments were small in size but did not include any immature remains and age is us suggested subadult/adult (>12 years). Fragments of long bones and occasional cranial fragments were present. However, it is unlikely that this assemblage contains the complete cremated remains of this individual.
A total of three radiocarbon dates were obtained from (cremated human bone; holly and oak charcoal) the two pits excavated at Kilnagurteen 1. These indicated that the burial activity recorded at the site was undertaken during the Middle Bronze Age. Two of the returned dates (cremated human bone and holly charcoal) indicate a Middle Bronze Age date for both pits. The third returned date (‘young oak’ charcoal) from upper 5 cm (Spit 1) of the cremation pit indicated a Late Bronze Age date but is most likely intrusive given the date of the cremated bone.