2005:243 - FERMOY, Cork

Monitoring took place of works within previously untested or unresolved locations along the route of the new N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy bypass between June 2004 and March 2005. These works occurred both within and outside the extents of the compulsory purchase order. External works were monitored under licence 04E0948 by Laurence Dunne (Excavations 2004, No. 256), while internal works were appointed individual works numbers by the project archaeologist.

Two shallow pits, 4m apart, were located 30m to the south of the burnt mound. The upper fill of the larger pit included twelve sherds of pottery, which have been identified as belonging to a Middle Neolithic globular bowl and two fragments of flint.

A group of features were located to the immediate south of a dried-up streambed. The area was partially disturbed by vegetation and animal burrows. A curved linear feature was located 1–1.5m south of the streambed; it was filled with a black sandy silt with heat-shattered stones and charcoal. A stony spread, 0.16m deep, was in the area between the linear feature and the stream. It overlay two pits, which were truncated by the stream. Four pits (C.15 and C.23–25) and a stake-hole were excavated to the south of the linear feature. The pits varied in size from 0.54m in diameter to 1.84m by 1.42m. Some of the fills included fragments of charcoal and heat-shattered stone. A flint flake was recovered from a fill of C.23. Charcoal from the fill of pit C.23 returned an Early Bronze Age date of 2335–2036 cal BC (UB-6775).

A group of three pits, seven post-holes, six stake-holes and a metalled surface were on the north side of the streambed and to the north and east of the fulacht fiadh mound. The pits, post-holes and stake-holes were probably associated with the burnt mound. Some of the features were backfilled with the burnt-mound material when they went out of use. The post-holes varied in size from 0.48m by 0.43m to 0.7m by 0.65m. They may have formed a substantial fence line or a rack 8.5m in length. The distance between the post-holes varied between 0.5 and 2m. The seventh post-hole was located to the north of the fulacht fiadh mound. The stake-holes were circular or subcircular in plan with vertical sides. The fills were silty sands and they included flecks of charcoal. Four of the six stake-holes were set in pairs. The metalled surface measured 1.5m by 1.1m and was constructed of small compacted stones. It was cut by a pit.

The mound of the fulacht fiadh comprised five spreads and overlay a trough, three pits and a hearth. Sixty-one stake-holes were associated with the trough and hearth. The stake-holes on the north side of the hearth probably formed a screen. The stake-holes associated with the trough would have held a wooden lining in place. C.93 was the largest of the burnt-mound spreads that formed the mound of the fulacht fiadh. It measured c. 10m by 9m. It comprised a black sandy silt with heat-shattered stone and charcoal.

The trough was rectangular in plan and measured 2.15m by 1.46m and 0.48m deep. It was filled with the main burnt-mound spread. Twenty stake-holes cut the base of the trough. Five of these formed a cluster at the east corner and four at the north corner. No stake-holes were excavated on the north-east side of the base. In addition, a group of five stake-holes were clustered at the edge of the north and five at the west corners. The south corner of the trough was truncated by a pit. Four stake-holes were located in the northern portion of the base of the pit. These may have formed part of the group in the base of the trough. Five additional stake-holes were located on the perimeter of the trough. The stake-holes varied in size, the smaller being 0.04m in diameter and the larger 0.1m in diameter on average. A burnt hearth fill was located to the north-west of the trough. The underlying subsoil was heat-scorched. This hearth measured 1.5m by 1.1m by 0.05m deep. It was defined on the north edge by an alignment, 1.4m in length, of sixteen stake-holes. A further three stake-holes were located to the west of the hearth.

Two small spreads of redeposited natural were excavated on the west side of the trough. Pit C.110 cut the spread C.111. It measured 0.6m by 0.55m by 0.45m in depth and contained three fills. The burnt-mound spread formed the upper fill of the pit. Charcoal from the fill of the pit returned a late Bronze Age date of 997–825 cal BC (UB-6776). The fills of both pits included burnt-mound material. Pit C.103 truncated the south side of the trough and the north side of pit C.105. Four stake-holes cut the base of the pit; these could be associated with the complex associated with the trough. Three stake-holes were located on the south-west side and a small post-hole was located at the northern corner of the pit.

The two pits dated to the Middle Neolithic are a significant discovery, as Neolithic activity is rarely recorded in this region. Twelve burnt mounds were identified during earlier work on the Rathcormac–Fermoy road scheme, including a unique stone-lined trough and hut site within the townland of Scartbarry (NRA Archaeological Discoveries).

Reference
NRA Archaeological Discoveries. N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Road Scheme.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork