Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on sloping ground at the interface between dry ground and an area of deep peat. There was no above ground evidence of this fulacht fia prior to its discovery during archaeological monitoring on the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme (2001-2002). It was fully excavated by Guinan (2015, 9-28, Bekan 1) under licence 01E0679. The fulacht fia consisted of an irregular spread (7.2m N–S; 7.4m E-W) of burnt sandstone fragments in charcoal-rich soil. The upper layers of the mound had been truncated during land reclamation. On the W side of the mound, there was an oval-shaped, earth-cut trough (L 2.04m E–W; Wth 1.22m; max D 0.7m) which was cut into boulder clay. The lower portion of thirty four wooden posts or stakes (diam. 2-4cm), mainly hazel, were preserved in the boulder clay, ranged around the base of the trough, probably the remnants of a wicker lining. A piece of struck chert was recovered. Three charcoal samples produced the flowing radiocarbon dates: 3352+/- 40 BP (1745-1525 BC); 3258 +/- 42 BP (1672-1439 BC); 3415 +/- 45 BP (1880-1600 BC). These dates place the site in the Middle Bronze Age. A second fulacht fia (MA092-124----) is located 600m to E. (Guinan 2015, 9-28).

Compiled by: Jane O’ Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 3 March 2016

References

Guinan, B. 2015 On the plains of Mayo. Archaeological discoveries on the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme Stage III: Claremorris-Knock-Ballyhaunis-Ballindine. Mayo County Council Archaeological Series 5. Castlebar.