Archaeological excavations carried out by O’Kelly in 1952 revealed a fascinating story of reuse and adaptation spanning centuries. The site’s early defensive fosse, or ditch, was deliberately re-cut during the late medieval period when the headland underwent significant re-fortification. A stone causeway was built on the landward side of the fosse at the neck of the promontory, and O’Kelly’s research suggests a wooden drawbridge once connected this causeway to the interior of the fort.

The promontory’s edges retain sections of curtain wall, particularly well-preserved on the northern side, with an opening that aligns with the causeway entrance. Within the enclosure, O’Kelly uncovered the lower courses of a substantial rectangular structure measuring at least 16 feet wide and 33 feet long, though coastal erosion has claimed its southern end. This building contained an internal partition wall dividing it into rooms, with the smaller chamber serving as a kitchen complete with the remains of a hearth or wall-oven in one corner. The house met a dramatic end; charred wooden roof timbers and slates found overlying the floor indicate it was destroyed by fire.

Artefacts discovered during the excavation help date the site’s later occupation to between 1550 and 1650, including pottery from this period and lead musket balls from around 1650. This re-fortification of Toehead reflects a broader pattern along the West Cork coastline, where many coastal promontory forts were similarly renovated during this turbulent period, often with the addition of tower-houses and bawn enclosures, as seen at nearby sites like Dundeady and Downeen. These transformations speak to the strategic importance of these coastal defences during an era of increasing maritime conflict and political upheaval in Ireland.