Burnt mound

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered during archaeological test trenching (Excavation Licence 01E0874). Sections of at least two ditches/gullies (LH012-064001- and LH012-064002-) were identified. Their function is unclear as no artefacts were recovered from them and only very small sections were excavated. Two distinct areas of burning were also identified (LH012-064003- and LH012-064004-). The first consisted of several small areas of burning in close proximity but it is not clear whether these represent the edge of a large archaeological burnt spread or are a non-archaeological deposit. The second spread consisted of charcoal, ash, burnt clay and heat shattered stone i.e. burnt mound material. The location of these two spreads close to a river and marshy areas suggests that they may have been part of fulachta fia. (Coughlan, 2001)

Compiled by: Claire Breen

Date of upload: 19 April 2012

References

Coughlan, T. 2001 Archaeological testing of a proposed development site at Haynestown, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Unpublished archaeological report. National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.