2003:332 - RATHEALY (2), Cork
County: Cork
Site name: RATHEALY (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO035-139----
Licence number: 03E1457
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
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.