County: Kilkenny Site name: PARKSGROVE 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0599
Author: Paul Stevens for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 643464m, N 670084m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.780031, -7.355756
The site was revealed during archaeological monitoring of a Bord Gáis Éireann pipeline development from Ballyconra to Baunlusk, Co. Kilkenny (see No. 426 Excavations 1999). Parksgrove townland is situated along the western flood-plain of the River Nore, with undulating farmland and patches of reclaimed boggy ground. Excavation of this site took place in August 1999. The underlying natural was glacial boulder clay.
The site consisted of a partially exposed spread of fire-cracked sandstone and charcoal-rich, silty sand, continuing west of the edge of excavation, representing part of a denuded fulacht fiadh. The exposed semicircular deposit measured 8.5m by 6m and 0.2m in maximum depth and was heavily truncated by later ploughing. Two large areas of burnt soil lay to the east of the mound and were interpreted as an informal hearth and a second hearth and platform area, for heating stones to use in the fulacht fiadh. The hearth was circular with tiny fragments of manganese oxide and occasional small stones and gravel, 3.5m by 3m and 0.1m deep. The platform and hearth contained several dump deposits of pink ash, white ash and an irregular, disturbed limestone and sandstone spread, measuring 12m by 6m and 0.22m deep.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
