What is recorded here

Yes. The N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass cut through Skahanagh North, exposing three shallow ditches that marked medieval fields rather than a dwelling. One northern ditch contained holly charcoal dated near 970 BP, suggesting people shaped that landscape centuries before the road arrived. The boundary did not separate houses or holdings so much as it separated time itself: medieval soil memory beneath modern traffic.

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

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