County: Cork Site name: RATHEALY (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-139---- Licence number: 03E1457
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 581799m, N 599642m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.148333, -8.265946
Testing was carried out in advance of construction along the route of the proposed N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass Scheme. In 2002, during centre-line testing of the proposed route carried out by Donald Murphy (Excavations 2002, No. 346, 02E0713–02E0720), a number of possible features were identified on this site. These were subsequently designated Rathealy 2 and were excavated in October 2003. After stripping within the road-take, a number of features of archaeological potential were identified. These included two field boundaries, ten pits and two spreads, one of which had four associated post-holes and a stake-hole, and may have represented a hearth. The features were scattered over a stretch of ground measuring approximately 50m in length. Two finds were retrieved, including a possible hammerstone and a chert flake. These suggest this site may be prehistoric. Radiocarbon samples were collected from a number of these features and these will provide a date when analysed.
The work was funded in full by the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and was awarded by the National Roads Authority.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
