2000:0938 - DRUMMIN (Site A), Tipperary

In March 2000, an area measuring 33m east–west by 28m was stripped by machine to remove the topsoil and to establish the full extent of the fulacht spread and associated features. Once removed, the area was subsequently cleaned by hand to reveal an extensive area of fire-cracked sandstone and charcoal-stained clay, which covered an area of c. 14.5m east–west by 8m with a maximum thickness of 0.2m. The fulacht spread extended beneath the northern baulk and probably continued into the neighbouring field. Modern ploughmarks, which ran in an east–west direction through the fulacht spread, would indicate that the spread had been interfered with by modern activity resulting in the dispersion and reduction of the scatter of burnt stone. The spread was subsequently removed onto the natural, orange, rocky boulder clay. No underlying features were revealed.

An irregularly shaped pit, which measured 1.05m east–west by 1.4m, lay immediately south of the fulacht spread. The fill of this pit consisted of fulacht material, and it is possible that the initial extent of the fulacht spread lay beyond the pit but had been removed by machine during topsoil clearance. At the north-western corner of the fulacht spread an irregularly shaped spread of brown, peaty soil was revealed, which was partially cut into the natural boulder clay and may represent the remains of a trough. This feature had maximum dimensions of 3m north–south by 2.4m with a maximum depth of 0.2–0.4m. A charcoal spread, measuring 1.6m north–south by 2m, also lay east of the fulacht spread.

Three modern features, two ditches and one drain, were also exposed within Site A. Two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the fill of the trough. Radiocarbon dating results are awaited.

15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth