County: Cork Site name: RATHEALY (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-133—- Licence number: 03E1139
Author: Aidan O’Connell and Stephen J. Linnane, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure and Kiln - corn-drying
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 582175m, N 598400m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.137173, -8.260388
The N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass is c. 17.5km in length and will extend from the northern end of the new N8 Glanmire–Watergrasshill Road in the townland of Meenane, passing to the west of Rathcormac and east of Fermoy and on to the existing N8 at Moorepark West. Testing was carried out in advance of construction along the route of the proposed road on behalf of Cork County Council in 2002. During this phase of centre-line testing, an area of archaeological potential was identified at Rathealy, on a steep slope forming the valley side to the north of the Blackwater River. The site was subsequently designated Rathealy 1 and was excavated between 21 July and 25 August 2003.
The principal feature on the site comprised a linear enclosure or boundary ditch which was traced for a length of c. 200m with an average depth of c. 0.5m and width of c. 0.6m. The ditch had steep sides and a flat base and tended to weave from side to side. The ditch was divided into five segments, with offset gaps of c. 0.5m between them. One of the gaps between segments to the south was designed as an entrance, the ditch terminals being offset with a gap of c. 2m between them. The ditch ran from north to south but to the north turned to the north-west, where it extended beyond the road-take; to the south the ditch petered out.
Within the area enclosed by the ditch was a series of features: two figure-of-eight cereal-drying kilns, both of which were c. 2.5m long by c. 1.5m wide with maximum depths of c. 0.6m; two shallow bowl hearths with average diameters of c. 0.4m and an associated pit containing slag and kiln debris and two stake-holes; and numerous bowl-shaped pits. These varied in diameter but often contained heat-cracked stone, although no fulacht spread was associated with the site. The pits occasionally occurred in clusters, but no structural pattern could be discerned.
Whilst awaiting the results of radiocarbon dating, it is not possible to say whether any or all of these features are contemporary. The finds assemblage was small, comprising four flint flakes and possible rubbing and whetstones. The overall impression of the site was that at least some of the features related to the Bronze Age. One pit contained a stone spindle whorl.
This work was funded by the National Development Plan and was awarded by the National Roads Authority.
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