County: Cork Site name: FERMOY (3)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-134---- Licence number: 03E1462
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 582202m, N 597850m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.132233, -8.259965
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, a series of pits and post-holes was exposed at Fermoy. The site was subsequently designated Fermoy 3 and was excavated in October 2003.
A field boundary ditch was exposed to the south of the site, while a cluster of three post-holes and four pits was located to the north of the site. The pits were generally subcircular in shape, with diameters varying from 0.38 to 0.55m and depths averaging between 0.15 and 0.2m. The post-holes contained stone packing at the sides and they averaged 0.3m in diameter. The pits and post-holes combined formed a rough circle 2.5m in diameter. A large sherd of probable Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the fill of one of the pits, while two flint scrapers and sherds of highly decorated later Bronze Age pottery were recovered from the post-holes. Nutshells were also recovered from one of the pits. It is possible that these features formed a small temporary hut structure, as this site is clearly domestic in nature. Post-excavation analysis should shed further light on both the date and nature of this site.
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
