County: Cork Site name: BUTLERSTOWN LITTLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0437
Author: Tim Coughlan, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 573898m, N 577398m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.948070, -8.379683
This site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of a Bord Gáis Éireann pipeline that extended from Caherlag to Ballincollig, Co. Cork. The site was initially identified as a large spread of blackened and fire-shattered stone immediately beneath the topsoil. Preliminary investigations appeared to confirm the presence of a trough beneath the burnt spread. There had been no evidence of the site before the plant works.
The spread extended north-south along the line of the pipeline for approximately 25m and up to 10m into the western side of the wayleave (presumably continuing for a similar distance outside the wayleave). Preliminary investigation of the site indicated the presence of a probable trough and hearth, and the excavation sought to expose these features fully, and any other features that were present beneath the spread.
The trough lay immediately inside the western boundary of the wayleave and took the form of an elongated oval pit that was orientated roughly east-west. The pit had maximum dimensions of 4.62m x 1.4m and was between 0.45m and 0.55m deep. The pit had been cut through a yellow/brown, loamy subsoil and was relatively straight-sided and flat-bottomed. The trough was stone-lined at the east and west ends, and the stones had been removed in antiquity from the sides. The stones had probably been originally sealed with clay, or possibly animal hide, in order to make them watertight.
The hearth lay at the east end of the trough and was roughly horseshoe-shaped, with the open end facing the trough. The edge of the hearth area was lined with small stones forming a kerb. The hearth covered an area 1.3m across the horns and 1.1m from front to back. There was no evidence that the hearth was floored, although the underlying subsoil was not badly scorched, indicating that it may originally have been floored.
Around the north-east side of the trough was evidence of a crudely laid stone surface. These stones were roughly set into the natural subsoil, and there was no evidence of this surface continuing on the other sides of the trough. There were no other features (post-holes etc.) associated with the surface.
The final feature recorded was a possible roasting pit to the south of the trough. This was a circular pit that cut through the southern edge of the trough pit. It could only have functioned as a roasting pit if the trough had been stone-lined on all sides, otherwise it would have flooded. It was contemporary with the trough, as the deposits filling both consisted of the same material.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
