Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated 35m N of a small stream running through the centre of the eco-village, 355m W of Cloghjordan House (TN016-001003-) in the historic village of Cloghjordan (TN016-001----). Second fulacht fia (TN016-009----) 180m to SSE. Geophysical survey carried out under licence No. 06R020 which required archaeological test trenching. Subsequent archaeological test trenching of these anomalies by Emer Dennehy on behalf of Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. in 2006 under licence number 06E0257 confirmed the remains of a fulacht fia (Dennehy 2009, 491). The monument has been fully excavated.
The test excavation results were summarised by Dennehy (2009, 490-1) as following; 'The proposed development at Cloughjordan comprises a 67-acre site within which a ‘sustainable village’ is to be constructed. A total of 133 mixed residential units will be constructed on the southern twenty acres of the site and 30% of the development site will be used for woodlands with the remaining 40% used for agricultural activity. The site is in a rich archaeological and historical environment, with the three RMP sites located within or adjacent to the development. These sites, namely the moated site (TN011–028----) and Cloughjordan Castle (TN016–001----), attest the Anglo-Norman occupation of the area. The enclosure site [TN011-029----], though levelled, is illustrated on cartographic sources and was perceived to be medieval in date. However, a late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age ring-barrow (TN011-038---) was identified immediately adjacent to the enclosure and now suggests the enclosure could be prehistoric. Initial investigations involved a detailed geophysical survey (06R020) and this was followed by an archaeological impact assessment targeting known and suspected areas of archaeological activity. A total of 2184 linear metres of trenches were opened, identifying five archaeological sites that would be impacted upon by the development. The area of the enclosure was excluded from the testing programme. The five sites identified were two fulachta fiadh (Sites 1 and 2) [TN016-009----], 1 burnt spread (Site 3), a post-medieval blast furnace (possible) (Site 4) [TN016-008----] and a ring-barrow (Site 5) [TN011-039----]. Sites 4 and 5 were excluded from the development and are to be preserved in situ. Sites 1–3 were excavated over a four-week period in June/July 2006.
Site 2 - This was a large fulacht fiadh located 160m to the north-west of Site 1 [TN016-009----]. It comprised a large sub-circular mound of burnt limestones measuring 26m north–south by 20m and was sited on a small rise. Due to the wet location of the site, seasonal or periodic abandonment of work was noted through episodes of peat regrowth within the mound. The integrity of the site stratigraphy was compromised by land reclamation activities and further disturbance caused by the burial of a horse. The use of the site focused around its centre, where the troughs and roasting pits were identified in association with a small windbreak, effectively creating a distinctive work area measuring 10m north–south by 6m. The hearths within which the stones were heated were confined to the west of the site; stockpiles of limestone were gathered to the east, while debris mounds primarily accumulated to the north and east of the troughs. In this instance this information indicates that the site originally had a horse-shoe-shaped layout where activities focused to the north, east and west of the troughs, while the southern side of the site was left open to accommodate access to/from the work area. Two troughs and four roasting pits were excavated; not all the cut features were contemporary. Only one trough provided evidence of a wood lining'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 6 May 2020

References

Harrison, D. 2006 Geophysical Survey Report (Licence 06R0020), The Village, Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Dennehy, E. 2009 Oxpark and Townfields, Cloughjordan: Fulachta fiadh/sweathouse. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 490-1. Dublin. Wordwell.

Dennehy, E. 2006 Archaeological Impact Assessment Report on behalf of Sustainable Community, The Village, Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary (Licence No 06E0257), unpublished report submitted to National Monuments Service, DAHG.