County: Cork Site name: FERMOY (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-124---- Licence number: 03E1465
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 582082m, N 598582m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.138808, -8.261756
Testing was carried out in advance of construction along the route of the proposed N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass on behalf of Cork County Council. In 2002, during this phase of centre-line testing, the disturbed remains of a fulacht fiadh were exposed at Fermoy. The site was subsequently designated Fermoy 1 and was excavated in October 2003.
An area measuring 252m2 was opened around the fulacht spread. A layer of heat-shattered sandstone and charcoal sealed an area measuring approximately 7m by 6m. The spread measured 0.24m in depth and in places had been completely truncated and destroyed by ploughing. Following the removal of the fulacht material, a rectangular trough with rounded corners was exposed. The trough had dimensions of 2m by 1.5m and a maximum depth of 0.4m. Fragments of charred timber lining were recovered from the base of the feature. The timber sealed four tiny stake-holes located in each corner of the trough respectively. Two larger stake-holes were visible outside the base lining of the trough and presumably formed part of the structure.
Radiocarbon analysis will provide dates for both the fulacht spread and the trough and it is expected that a Bronze Age date will be returned.
This work was funded in full by the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and awarded by the National Roads Authority.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
