What is recorded here

Excavation near Rathcormac revealed ten pits and a possible hearth before the N8 bypass cut through County Cork. Charcoal dated the holes between 1300 and 790 BC, placing ordinary human activity beneath a modern road. The buried fire and varying pits suggest people lived, discarded and returned across generations.

Discovered in 2002 and subsequently excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. The excavation revealed ten pits and a burnt spread with associated stake- and post-holes. The pits varied in size and shape. Charcoal samples taken from three pits returned radiocarbon dates of 880-790 cal. BC, 1140-920 cal. BC and 1300-1030 cal. BC, respectively (Murphy 2006n, 35). The spread (0.48m x 0.6m; D 0.21m) was subrectangular in plan and consisted of a loose, medium-brown, silty sand with oxidised areas, occasional small stones and charcoal. Its association with four post-holes and one stake-hole suggested that it may have represented a hearth (Murphy 2006n, 73). (Murphy 2006g, 72-3; 2006n) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

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