Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Located at the edge of a WNW facing slope, adjacent a natural basin of peat overlying marl. This fulacht fia was uncovered at a depth of 0.3-0.4m below the surface during pre-development testing in May 2014 in advance of the construction of a football pitch (Excavation licence: 14E0144). It consisted of an irregular-shaped concentration (12m NE/SW; 6m NW/SE) of blackened soil and heat-shattered rocks with occasional charcoal. The outline of a subrectangular trough (1.7m NNW/SSE and 1.2m) was visible 1m to S. The trough was filled with re-deposited subsoil and heat-shattered rocks, and it was not possible to determine its exact form. The fulacht fia was disturbed in the past; it was cut on the NW side by a trench (Wth 1-1.3m; D to the NW) orientated NE/SW. To the W of the trench and down the WNW facing slope were two smaller areas of displaced burnt material. The first area (1.9m N-S; 1.3m E-W) was located 1.3m W of the main spread, and the second area (1.3m N-S x 0.6m E-W) was located 1.3m NW of the main spread. The fulacht fia was not fully excavated. It was covered with a terram membrane and 300mm of sand, and is preserved in situ below the football pitch. (Pers. comm. Richard Crumlish, consultant archaeologist, November 2015). There is a burnt mound (MA078-069----) located 50m to WSW.

The attached image is uploaded courtesy of Richard Crumlish:
MA078-068----_01.JPG viewed from S, with location of the trough indicated by ranging rods.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 9 November 2015