County: Tipperary Site name: RICHMOND (Site L/M)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0216, 00E0217, 00E0218
Author: Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulachta fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 584500m, N 680848m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.878300, -8.230270
An extensive area incorporating Sites L and M was initially stripped by machine to remove the topsoil to establish the full extent of various fulacht spreads and associated features. The area, which measured 40m by 100m, was subsequently cleaned by hand. Four individual fulacht spreads were thus revealed, along with various associated and unassociated features, including troughs, pits and drains. This site was excavated between 20 April and 11 May 2000.
Fulacht I
This fulacht spread was revealed at the top of the ridge in the south-western corner of the site next to the eastern field boundary. This was the largest fulacht spread, with a maximum length of 15m and a maximum width of 18m, a minimum length of 8m and a minimum width of 3m, and was located south of Fulacht II. This spread, however, continued beyond the fence line of the road into the adjoining field and was visible beneath the baulk. It was a classic crescent-shaped fulacht fiadh, and a layer of peat indicating the presence of a trough was visible at the northern base of the spread. Two phases of activity were identified during the excavation of this trough, which measured 8.7m by 6.2m. A spindle-whorl was retrieved from the fill, and numerous features were exposed beneath the fulacht, including a second trough and associated post-holes, an area of oxidisation and a pit.
Fulacht II
North of Fulacht I, a second fulacht spread was exposed. This spread, which was located at the base of a hillock, was shaped almost like a duck and had a maximum length of 7.5m, a maximum width of 9m, a minimum length of 1m and a minimum width of 3m. A timber-lined, bowl-shaped trough lay west of this spread. A charcoal sample taken from this feature returned a radiocarbon date of 971–816 BC. This feature had maximum dimensions of 2.4m by 2.1m. Once the fulacht spread was removed, various underlying features were exposed, including a second trough and an extensive layer of peat.
Fulacht III
A third fulacht spread was revealed on the northern ridge of the site. North of Fulacht II, this feature covered an area of c. 6m north–south by 6.4m and had a maximum thickness of 0.1m. A trough, which measured 1.06m by 1.6m and had a maximum depth of 0.7m, was revealed immediately south of the fulacht spread. A charcoal sample taken from this trough returned a radiocarbon date of 2139–1949 BC. Two series of post-holes, which were sealed by the fulacht spread, were exposed to the east, west and north of the trough. Two trenches were also exposed within this area; one of the trenches and its associated post-holes lay beneath the fulacht spread, while the second trench, although set at a 45o angle to the first, lay beyond the eastern extent of the spread. These trenches may have functioned as foundation trenches for a hut or a meat store.
Fulacht IV
This fulacht was exposed on the southern ridge of the site. It had a maximum length of 8m, a maximum width of 6m and a maximum thickness of 0.1m. This fulacht spread was removed onto the natural boulder clay, where numerous underlying features were exposed. These included a stone-lined rectangular trough and associated post-holes, a possible hearth and associated post-holes, a rectangular, sunken, hardened surface (a possible floor surface of a hut/temporary structure) and associated post-holes, three post-pits, a pit that possibly represents a stone socket (a similar feature was exposed that was not sealed by the fulacht but by the topsoil) and two pits and associated post-holes.
Other features exposed on Sites L and M include three modern stone drains, a modern field drain, four pits and a stony spread.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
