Field boundary

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered in 2002 and subsequently excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. Excavation revealed three field boundary ditches (max. Wth 1.34m; max. D 0.6m), one at the S end of the site and the other two at the N end. The S example comprised a curving field boundary ditch on a NNW-SSE orientation. One of the field boundary ditches at the N appeared to be the earliest one on the site. This was truncated at its W end by a later NW-SE orientated field boundary ditch. Charcoal from one of the fills of the latter was identified as holly and produced a radiocarbon date of 970+/-40 BP. According to the excavator, it would appear that both these field boundaries are broadly contemporary (Murphy 2006j, 38). No finds or other features were found in association with this field boundary and Murphy (ibid., 44) concluded therefore that the ditch belonged to a medieval field system, as opposed to representing medieval occupation on the site. (Murphy 2006e, 76; 2006j)

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

Date of upload: 22 December 2009