County: Sligo Site name: KNOXPARK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0303
Author: Cia McConway, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 567158m, N 828206m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.201728, -8.503347
A site assessment was carried out at a proposed landfill site in Knoxpark townland, south of Ballysadare, Co. Sligo. An environmental impact assessment had identified four features of archaeological potential-a kidney-shaped mound indicating a possible fulacht fiadh, a cairn, a standing stone and an old field system. Archaeological investigations at each of these features indicated that the mound was indeed a fulacht fiadh, the cairn was the result of field clearance and the 'standing stone' was part of the old field system that was dated to the post-medieval period.
The fulacht fiadh measured 13.2m east-west by 10.4m and had a maximum height of 0.54m. A small indentation was found midway along its southern edge, giving it a characteristic kidney shape.
A trench 9.6m long was cut east-west along the western edge of the mound and revealed that the bog had encroached over the lower limit of the mound along the western edge. Investigations indicate that the mound material consists of two distinct layers with varying quantities of burnt and heat-shattered stone and charcoal. This material directly overlay a fibrous, orange/brown peat.
Some timber was found running north-south within this peat, although on examination this would appear to be tree roots as opposed to part of a wooden trough. No features were uncovered cutting the subsoil within the limits of this test-trench.
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