Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying ground to the E of a drain that channels water from a stream to the N. A spread (7.2m E-W; min. c. 5.4m N-S; D 0.7m) of heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil extending into the wayleave of the Ballincollig-Ballineen gas pipeline was discovered during topsoil stripping and was excavated in 2000. Beneath the spread was a loosely set layer of sandstone pebbles partially covered by sods. The pebbles may have functioned as a dry work surface for the fulacht fia or they may have been a dump of stones used in the heating process. A clay-lined trough (min. 1.1m N-S; 1.05m E-W), filled with heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil, was found in the NW corner of the spread. Its full extent could not be determined as it lay partially outside the excavated area. The N portion of this fulacht fia, which lies outside of the pipeline corridor, was not excavated and remains in situ. (Tobin 2002c, 47)

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

Date of upload: 22 December 2009