Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture 30m S of a stream and 45m W of a second watercourse. Enclosure (LI039-032----) lies 90m to W. Not depicted on OSi historic mapping. One of 6 features (LI039-172/174/ 175001/175002/176----) identified as (BGE 3/77/27-29) in 2002 by Ken Wiggins (Licence 02E0119) during topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Excavated in 2002 by Kate Taylor under licence No. 02E0470 the results of which were summarised as follows; ‘The fulacht fiadh spread was irregularly shaped, measuring 10m by 9m, and was less than 0.1m thick, with a fairly flat profile; it extended to the southern baulk and appeared to continue into the adjacent field. Two overlapping deposits were recorded, both containing fractured burnt stone and the upper including a component of charcoal. Two cut features were revealed below the spread: a concave scoop and a trough. The scoop measured 2.05m (north-west/south-east) by 0.74m and was 0.11m deep; it was filled with material identical to the upper spread deposit. The trough was subrectangular with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 1.56m by 1.16m and was 0.42m deep. It was not lined but was filled with a deposit rich in charcoal and burnt stones (Taylor 2004, 297)’. Monument has been fully excavated and is not visible on aerial images.

See attached plan of excavated spread.

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date of upload: 18 May 2021

References

Halpin, B. 2004 Ballingayrour (BGE 3/77/7-9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19); Various. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: Summary Accounts of Archaeological Excavations in Ireland, 298-9, No. 1087. Wordwell, Bray.