Habitation site

The National Monuments Service's description

This habitation site was excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. A total of 65 features of archaeological significance were identified. These included two concentrations of stake- and post-hole activity, three hearths, a number of oxidised clay spreads and a number of pits. One of the hearths was radiocarbon dated to 6250-6040 BC. Other Mesolithic evidence took the form of two worn flint microliths which were retrieved from the fill of one of the pits (O'Neill 2006i, 48). These microliths however may have been redeposited as radiocarbon analysis produced a Neolithic date of 3090-2580 BC for this pit (ibid.). The two other hearths returned dates of 2140-1870 BC and 1870-1520 BC. The closely related ranges for these hearths may, according to O'Neill (ibid., 50), represent the abandonment of one hearth and the commencement of use of the other. Three of the pits, which were located towards the N end of the excavation area, contained a large quantity of Mid-Western Neolithic pottery. Other finds from various locations included flint debitage. A post-hole from one of two flimsy structures identified returned a date of 1970-1630 BC. According to O'Neill (ibid., 51), these structures did not contain any evidence of industrial activity or domestic occupation and it is very probable that the Bronze Age activity on the site was seasonal and temporary. (O'Neill 2006h; 2006i)

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

Date of upload: 22 December 2009