Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Located at the interface of a glacial ridge and an area of lowlying, deep peat. This fulacht fia was discovered during archaeological monitoring of the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme (2001-2002) and was subsequently excavated (01E1081) (Guinan 2015, 52-53; 62-73, Carrowcor II). The fulacht fia, which had been disturbed by land reclamation and past farming activity, consisted of a spread of sandstone fragments in charcoal-rich peaty soil. It overlay a layer of marl which in turn overlay peat. Part of the fulacht fia, which extended to S beyond the acquired pipeline wayleave, remains intact. The remainder of the mound (6.2m N–S; 6m E–W; D 0.27m) was excavated. At the W of the excavated area, there was a shallow rectangular feature (1.5m NW–SE; 0.8m NE–SW), cut into the underlying marl layer, which may have been the remains of a trough. Ten chert flakes, a quartz flake, a chert end scraper, a quartz hammerstone and a polished stone axe were found. Also recovered were 58 fragments of pig, cattle and horse bones. A charcoal sample produced a radiocarbon date of 2890 +/-45 BP (1220-920 BC) which dates the site to the early stages of the Late Bronze Age. Another fulacht fia (MA102-058----) is located 30m to W. (Guinan 2015, 52-53; 62-73).

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.