Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying wet ground. A low mound (20m E-W; 15m N-S; H 0.4m) of heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil was discovered in 2007 during archaeological monitoring in advance of the construction of an industrial development. The burnt stones were predominantly sandstone and were sourced at some distance from the monument. The S part of the mound overlay charcoal-rich peaty clay that extended into a pond (10m E-W; 8m N-S; D 0.9m) which was probably the water source for the fulacht fia. The pond was infilled with peat lenses and heat-shattered stone. Twelve pits were recorded, three of which were outside the limit of the stone spread. Two large pits were interpreted as troughs. The pits were in two main clusters to the N of the pond; two pits were to the E and single pit lay to the W. It is possible that each concentration of pit activity is related to discrete use of the troughs. This fulacht fia was radiocarbon dated to 2283-2146 cal. BC (3788±30BP) (UBA 8449). Another fulacht fia (CO076-121----) lies c. 220m to the SSE. (pers. comm. Rose M. Cleary)

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009).

Date of upload: 22 December 2009