What is recorded here

Six shallow pits sit buried along the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass, waiting for a road to reveal them. They held no tools, bones or pots, only hazel charcoal dated around 110 BC to AD 130. Two lie close enough to belong together, while the others keep their distance like forgotten markers. Perhaps people stood there, pointed into the earth and left before meaning could settle.

Discovered in 2002 and excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. Excavation revealed six roughly circular pits (av. dims 0.9m x 0.53m; av. D 0.23m), two of which were in close proximity to each other and may have been related. The remaining two pits were isolated and, according to the excavator (O'Neill 2006b, 75), had no apparent association. The pits did not contain any finds to suggest a function or determine their nature. Charcoal from one of the pits was identified as hazel and returned a radiocarbon date of 110 cal. BC-AD 130 cal. (O'Neill 2006g, 31). (O'Neill 2006b, 75; 2006g) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.