Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the edge of a peat deposit at the base of a low hill, at the interface between zones of peat and dry pasture land. This burnt mound was discovered during archaeological monitoring of the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme (2001-2002) and was subsequently fully excavated (01E0967) (Guinan 2015, 74-76; 83-89, Kildarra II). The burnt mound had suffered disturbance in the past. It consisted of a low mound (3.6m N–S; 7.4m E–W; max. D 0.1m) of burnt sandstone in a charcoal-rich matrix, truncated on its E and S sides by a field drain. An isolated charcoal-rich deposit (0.5m x 0.4m; max. D 0.05m) was found 5m NE of the main mound. No trough was found. One chert flake and five unidentifiable fragments of animal bone were recovered. A charcoal sample submitted for radiocarbon analysis produced a date (2902 +/-82 BP (1386-900 BC) indicating the early stages of the Late Bronze Age. Another fulacht fia (MA102-62----) was located 25m to N. (Guinan 2015, 74-76; 83-89).

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.