Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight E-facing slope overlooking a local hollow. Archaeological testing (04E1052) by G. McLoughlin (2005) at Testing Area 1 of Contract 5 of the M3 motorway identified two spreads of broken and burnt stone c. 40m apart (excavations.ie 2004:1194) which were fully excavated (E003165) by S. Reilly in November and December 2006 as Calliaghstown 2. This is an irregularly shaped spread of charcoal-rich clay and heat-shattered stones (dims 20m x 19.5m; max. T 0.44m) that sealed a sub-rectangular trough (2.26m plus E-W; 1.8m N-S; D 0.4m) and an oval pit (dims 1.5m x 0.94m; D 0.26m). The mound and the E edge of the trough were cut by a N-S post-medieval stone drain (Wth 2m; D 0.7m). Three stake-holes were in the two surviving corners of the trough. A subrectangular pit (dims 2.64m x 1.9m; D 0.48m) was just NW of the burnt spread but its fill of broken and burnt stone indicates it is probably contemporary, and a sample of hazel charcoal from its base produced a C14 date of 957-806 cal. BC (Beta 247133). No artefacts were recovered from the excavation but a barbed and tanged arrowhead was recovered in the topsoil of Calliaghstown 2. Fulacht fia (ME016-080002-) is c. 40m to the SE. (Reilly and Ginn 2008, 1-2)

See the attached plan from Reilly and Ginn (2008, fig. 8)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 4 March 2022

References

Reilly, S. and V. Ginn 2008 M3 Clonee – North of Kells, Contract 5, Kells to North of Kells. Final Report on the Archaeological Excavation of Calliaghstown 2, Co. Meath. Licence: E003165. Unpublished report, Archaeological Consultancy Services

McLoughlin, G. 2005 M3 Clonee-North of Kells; Contract 5, Kells to North of Kells. Report on Archaeological Assessment at Testing Area 1 in Calliaghstown, County Meath. Licence: 04E1052. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy