2007:1216 - BALLINLABAUN, CLOONAWILLIN and FREEHEEN, Mayo

Monitoring was carried out during Phase 2 of the realignment of the N59 west of Crossmolina, Co. Mayo. Phase 1 of the same scheme had been completed in 2004. Burnt soil, heat-fractured stone and charcoal came to light in Freeheen townland. The material was seen running under the existing road and in places it extended out from the road into a narrow valley beside a stream. The material under the road was left in situ but the remainder was recorded and removed. It appeared to have been in a disturbed location but was considered to be the debris from fulacht fiadh activity. The deposit of fulacht fiadh material under the road seems to have been used as road foundation possibly during the 19th century. No small finds or evidence for a trough were uncovered. Radiocarbon dating of the material revealed dates from two separate areas of 3780 BP and 4090 BP for the disturbed material.