Burnt mound

The National Monuments Service's description

This feature was formerly located in generally level, wet pasture, on the southern edge of Tulla village. It was initially identified by Dominic Delaney through geophysical survey and targeted archaeological testing (Licence No. 09E262) which had been carried out across the site of a proposed residential development at Tulla, Co. Clare (Delaney 2009). A deposit (3.7m NE-SW; max. T 0.21m) of heat-shattered stone with frequent charcoal staining was uncovered at the site of one of the geophysical anomalies in the southern part of the development site (ibid.). A second deposit (L 2.8m) was recorded adjacent to SW and comprised of a dark-brown clayey silt with occasional heat-shattered stone and charcoal inclusions (ibid.). The two deposits were interpreted as the remains of a possible fulacht fiadh and preservation in situ was recommended. In 2014 these features were excavated (Licence No. 14E0023 ext.) during the planning stages for a proposed secondary school on this site (O’Connell 2014). No archaeological artefacts were recovered. A second burnt mound (CL035-168----) was recovered c. 75m to SW and excavated under the same licence. In 2015, a third burnt mound (CL035-167----) c. 45m to N, was recovered during groundworks for St Joseph’s Secondary School, which was constructed on this site 2015-16 (Halpin and McQueen 2016).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Alison McQueen

Date of upload: 21 November 2017

References

Delaney, D. 2009 Archaeological Impact Assessment of a Proposed Development at Tulla, County Clare (Revised), Excavation Licence No. 09E0262, Planning Ref. No. P08/1489. Unpublished assessment report by Dominic Delaney and Associates. National Monuments Section, Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Halpin, B. and McQueen, A. 2016 Final archaeological excavation and post-excavation results, St Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla, Co. Clare. Licence no. 150040. Unpublished report. National Monuments Service, Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

O'Connell, A. 2014 St Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla, County Clare: Archaeological Excavation, Licence No. 14E0023 ext. Unpublished excavation report by Archer Heritage Planning Ltd. National Monuments Section, Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.