Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on SW bank of Dorree River at a point where it has cut a narrow channel (Wth 1m) running SE to NW between two small but steep- sided glacial hillocks. Here the banks of the stream are up to 2.5m high, and the fulacht fia is situated on a narrow terrace right on the south- western bank c. 2m above the base of the stream. The prospect is limited by higher ground except to NW, where the stream flows out into a small basin. The fulacht fia is exposed in a sheep-rubbing (L c. 4.2m, H 0.5m) where it appears as a dense layer of heat-fractured stones and some charcoal in the sides and base of the ‘rubbed’ area. This layer of stones is at least 3.8m long on NW–SE axis, 1.2m long on NE–SW axis and is at least 0.4m thick. However, heat- fractured stones are also visible intermittently in face of the stream bank to SE of the rubbing, extending upstream for a further 4m. The north- western limit of the fulacht fia is, however, discernible at the extreme north-western end of the rubbed area where the layer of burnt stone peters out.

The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 29 November 2018

References

Gosling, P., Manning, C. and Waddell, J. (eds.) 2007 New Survey of Clare Island, Volume 5: Archaeology. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.