County: Clare Site name: KILLULLA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0022
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Hut site, Fulacht fia and Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Iron Age (800 BC-AD 339)
ITM: E 540017m, N 665091m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.733575, -8.888145
he N18/N19 road improvement scheme involves the construction of a new dual carriageway from Ballycasey northwards to Latoon South. A programme of archaeological works was undertaken along the proposed route in advance of construction. This site (AR27), in the townland of Killulla, had been identified as a fulacht fiadh and post-medieval farmstead and in 2000 was the subject of testing by Ken Hanley (Excavations 2000, No. 87, 00E0345). It lies to the north-west of AR28 (fulacht fiadh, see Excavations 2001, No. 72) and was excavated in March 2001.
An area measuring 110m by 55m was topsoil-stripped, revealing a much more extensive site than had been forecast by the test-trenching results. In addition to the fulacht fiadh, a large ring-ditched enclosure was also present. Removal of the topsoil had revealed at least three different phases of use within the site: a fulacht fiadh that was mainly situated along the east and north-east of the site, a ring-ditch that was located along the west of the site extending outside the limit of the excavation, and a rectangular stone structure that truncated part of this ditch within the north-west of the site.
Excavation revealed that the small stone structure was part of a post-medieval metal-working complex, with a small keyhole furnace located outside it. The ring-ditch, which had an internal diameter of 38m and an external diameter of 42m, contained within its fill a fragment of a rotary quern, a socketed spearhead and large quantities of animal bone. A radiocarbon date of AD 1010–1180 (940–760 BP) obtained from a charcoal sample from the fill indicated that this enclosure was medieval in date. A series of pits and post-holes were evident in the interior, suggesting associated occupation.
The ditch truncated a series of earlier features associated with the fulacht spread to the east. Among these was a hearth with a series of post-holes in its base; a radiocarbon date of 800–530 BC (2750–2480 BP) was obtained from a charcoal sample, indicating that this structure was late Bronze Age in date. A second hearth associated with the fulacht fiadh yielded a similar radiocarbon date of 800–410 BC (2760–2360 BP). Remains of a hut structure were also truncated by the ditch, and a radiocarbon date of 790–420 BC (2740–2370 BP) was obtained from a charcoal sample taken from the fill of the foundation cut. The fulacht itself consisted of a main concentration of burnt mound material, a small irregular-shaped spread and two troughs. A sample taken from the fill of one of these troughs provided a radiocarbon date of 920–770 BC (2870–2720 BP).
Further topsoil-stripping in this area failed to identify any additional archaeological features within the road corridor.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
