House - Bronze Age

The National Monuments Service's description

This is one of a group of three houses (see CO044-073010-, CO044-073-011-) which was excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. This circular house (7.3m N-S; 6.75m E-W) was defined by a shallow slot-trench (Wth c. 0.15m; D 0.15m). Inside and concentric with the slot-trench was a ring of six post-holes (av. diam. 0.25m; D 0.3m). According to the excavator, the slot-trench probably held a sill beam which supported a light outer wall of stakes and wattle, while the main structural support was provided by an internal ring of posts Cotter (2006c, 15). The E-facing entrance (Wth 0.7m) comprised two substantial post-holes (diam. 0.7m; D 0.31m) which formed the terminals of the slot-trench. A fragment of a saddle quern was used as a packing-stone for one of the post-holes. The other entrance post-hole of this house produced a radiocarbon date of 1620-1440 cal. BC (ibid., 24). Another post-hole, located centrally within this house, presumably held a post which provided additional support for the roof (ibid., 15). (Cotter 2006a, 34-5; 2006c)

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009).

Date of upload: 22 December 2009