Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pasture, on the E bank of a stream. A limited excavation (8m E-W; 5m N-S) of this fulacht fia took place in 2004 in response to unlicenced digging in an area known locally as 'the priest's grave' where an arc of low stones protruded above the ground. Excavation revealed features that are typical of a fulacht fia and recorded two phases of activity beginning with the construction and brief use of a trough and a hearth and followed by the renewed use of the hearth in association with a structure that was possibly used as a cooking house. The trough (1.32m N-S; 1.3m E-W; D 0.4m) filled naturally with water from the stream c. 6.5m to the W. It had a drainage outlet on its SW side. Its fill comprised heat-shattered stones and fragments of charcoal. The hearth consisted of a U-shaped stone wall with a central hearth chamber (1.2m E-W; 0.27-0.4m N-S; H 0.34-0.46m) opening to the W. It contained fuel ash deposits overlain by humic soil. Finds consisted of a flint thumbnail scraper and a stone hammer with opposing side notches. The second phase of activity commenced shortly after the trough was backfilled. The subcircular structure (2.8m E-W; 2.5m N-S) was built on the W side of the hearth using thin contiguous vertical slabs. These slabs (L 0.51-0.86m; H 0.36-0.46m) were used to build two wall lengths, separated by a funnel-shaped entrance gap (Wth 0.9m) on the W side. A path of small and large slabs (L 0.4-0.7m; T 0.04-0.08m) extended c. 5m to the W from the hearth opening through the entrance and probably continued for an additional 1-2m to the adjacent stream. The excavator suggests that a small box-like feature found adjacent to the hearth may have acted as a flue for the hearth. Radiocarbon dates indicate a Middle/Late Bronze Age date for both phases of activity. The monument was reinstated following excavation. (O'Brien 2004a; 2007, 58)

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

Date of upload: 22 December 2009