Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In a cutaway bog. Discovered in 1948 when a 'hearth' was exposed in section in the peat bank, c. 2.7m below the surface of the uncut peat. About a quarter of the 'hearth' was removed and some exploration of the section face occurred prior to investigation by NMI personnel. Excavation revealed a mound of sharp angular burnt limestones (max. diam. 0.15m) with some sandstone and quartz fragments and considerable quantities of charred wood and ashes (NMI). The mound was on top of black hard turf and covered by fibrous peat. A layer of burnt peat a few centimetres deep lay underneath the mound. No finds were recovered apart from one hazel nut. The full extent of the mound was not excavated but it was estimated to be roughly circular (diam. c. 4m). Mitchell (1958, 55) suggested a date of c. 1600 BC, based on associated pollen diagrams. No remains of the monument were found during the site inspection in 1993.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008