Habitation site in Fermoy

Excavated in 2003 in advance of the construction of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy Bypass. A cluster of three post-holes and four pits were discovered at the N of the site. The pits and post-holes together enclosed a roughly circular area (diam. 2.5m). The pits (diam. 0.38-0.55m; D 0.15-0.2m) were generally subcircular in shape. A large sherd of probable Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the fill of one of the pits. The post-holes (av. diam. 0.3m) contained packing-stones at the sides with the fills yielding two flint scrapers and sherds of highly decorated later Bronze Age pottery. The function of the site has been interpreted as domestic based on both the archaeological remains and the pottery present. The pits and post-holes were radiocarbon dated to 2140-1780 cal. BC. (Murphy 2006h, 59-60; Murphy 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