Archaeologists working on new motorway route in Cork unearth remains of early Neolithic home

Discoveries include evidence of Bronze-age cremations and what has been dubbed ‘Cork’s earliest roadside service station'

Archaeologists sift through stones likely to have formed ‘cobbling’ on a courtyard of a 17th century fortified house along the route of the M28. Picture: Archaeology & Heritage Section, Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Archaeologists working along the route of a new motorway in Cork have unearthed a wealth of history, including a near-6,000-year-old home of early Neolithic farmers, evidence of Bronze-age cremations, and what has been dubbed ‘Cork’s earliest roadside service station.’ 

In total, up to 50 archaeologists, employed by specialists Rubicon, have worked along the 12.5km M28 route corridor between the Bloomfield Interchange (M40) and Ringaskiddy, digging an astonishing 50,000 linear metres of archaeological test trenches at 38 different sites.