Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

On Great Island in Cork Harbour and c. 70m W of a stream. A spread of heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil was noted following topsoil stripping in advance of the construction of a large-scale housing development. A roughly oval spread (c. 16m E-W; c. 9m N-S) of this burnt material was excavated in 2007. Prior to development, the field in which the fulacht fia was found was in pasture with a marshy area to the E. Excavation revealed a large subrectangular stone-lined trough (5.18m NW-SE; 1.5m NE-SW; D 0.7-0.9m) under the W side of the spread. Adjoining the N end of the trough was a stone-lined hearth (2.1m x 2.1m; D c. 0.3m) with a stone surround. A possible circular structure (diam. c. 5m) was recorded around the trough. Under the E side of the spread were a large oval trough (5.18m x 4.2m; max. D 0.65m) and a smaller steep-sided trough (2m N-S; 1.4m E-W; D 0.5m), separated from each other by two large stones. An irregular arrangement of post-holes and stake-holes was found to the E of the rectangular trough and to the N of the oval trough but no apparent form or plan was evident in their layout. A shallow U-shaped channel (Wth 0.6m; max. D 0.25m) led eastwards from the rectangular trough to the steep-sided trough. A stone tool, possibly a hone stone, was the only artefact recovered during the excavation. (Ní Loingsigh 2007, 1-44)

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

Date of upload: 22 December 2009