Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the extreme south-eastern end of a large peat basin known locally as ‘Lough na bPoll’. Although now much disturbed by a drainage trench, the monument formerly stood at the head of the stream (Pollbrandy on Ordnance Survey maps) that drains the basin, flowing NE down a steep gully. The mound is immediately overlooked by higher ground on all sides save to SW. The line of a ruined wall, running ESE–WNW, is visible on the south-eastern bank of the channel and evidently overlay the fulacht fia. A second fulacht fia (MA085-005008-) lies c. 20m to SSW and a third (MA085-005010-) 28.7m to NE.

The fulacht fia comprises of extensive traces of a thick lens of burnt stone are visible in both faces of a recently cut drainage channel running NE–SW. As exposed in faces of drainage channel: L 11.3m max. (NE– SW), T c. 0.5m max. On the north-western side it extends for a distance of 7m while on the south-eastern side it is traceable for 11.3m. Three associated features are also visible in the south- eastern face;
a) towards the north-eastern end within the lens of burnt stone is a dense concentration of burnt wood fragments including numerous whole hazelnuts (possibly the remains of a hearth);
b) towards the south-western end, a flat stone slab (L 0.85m; Wth 0.1m) protrudes from the burnt stone. Nearby on the ground surface are a number of other similar slabs, possibly derived from the face (these could conceivably represent the remains of a stone trough;
c) finally, at the south-western end in the same face a large pine stump is visible, stratified in the peat directly beneath the layer of burnt stone. From the configuration of the above remains, the mound may have been U-shaped or lunate in plan, opening towards SE.

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.