Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Fulacht fia that was excavated prior to the construction of the section of the M7 known as the Limerick Southern Ring Road. Identified during the archaeological monitoring of the Limerick Southern Ring Road. Hut site (LI006-086----) 150m to the west, fulacht fia (LI006-087002----) c.20m to the east (Hayes 2001). Described as Newtown D, the fulacht fia was excavated under Licence No. 01E0056ext. by Avril Hayes, the results were summarised as following; ‘It consisted of a moderately loose dark blackish brown sandy silt composed mainly of angular fragments of burnt stone. The deposit measured 15.5m east–west by 18.4m and was 0.4m in depth. The uppermost fulacht fiadh material was heavily disturbed and was dragged across the site. It was cut by two furrows. A large pit was located under the fulacht fiadh material to the north of the western example. It was subcircular in shape and contained four fills. It measured 5.6m by 4.5m and was 2m deep. This pit may have been the area in which the trough was located. The basal fill consisted of a series of randomly arranged planks and branches which may have formed the lining of the trough but which were subsequently obscured by a dump of material and collapse from the side of the pit. Fragments of animal bone were recovered from the basal fill.’ (www.excavations.ie 2001:788; Hayes 2001, 83).

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 15 June 2020

References

Hayes, A. 2001 Archaeological excavation of Newtown B and D, County Limerick. Unpublished report (Licence No. 01E0056 ext.), submitted by Aegis Archaeology Ltd. on behalf of Limerick Co. Co. to the National Monuments Service, Dúchas.