Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

On the N outskirts of Ballina town, located at the base of the W-facing slope of a low grassy N–S ridge, on the edge of a lowlying area of reeds and scrubland, through which a small stream flows.
This fulacht fia was discovered during monitoring of the Ballina main drainage scheme, and it was subsequently excavated (licence no. 06E0195) in 2006 (Zajac 2009). It had been levelled in the past, and there was no surface indication prior to soil stripping. It underlay a shallow layer of peat, and overlay subsoil. The fulacht fia consisted of the remains of a subcircular mound (5.8m N–S; 5.2m E–W; D 0.35m) of heat-shattered stones, charcoal and ash, beneath which was an unlined circular trough or boiling pit (diam. 1.3m; D 0.6m), with a flat base and steep sides. The lowermost fill of the trough was of burnt stone and angular boulders, above which was a layer of compacted peat. Two post holes were found, one 1.3m to SW of the trough, the other 6m to E. No artefacts were found in association with the fulacht fia, but three pieces of iron slag were found in an unstratified context in this area. (Zajac 2009). A portion of the fulacht fia mound extended beyond the development way leave, and remains in situ. Another fulacht fia (MA030-097----), located 35m to S, was also excavated. (Zajac 2009).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of revised upload: 13 August 2019

References

Zajac, S. 2009 Ballina main drainage stage II, Archaeological report. Licence no. 06E195.
Ministerial consent no. C127. Registration no. E2019. September 2009. Unpublished report submitted to NMS.