County: Donegal Site name: GLEBE, Killybegs Upper
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0895
Author: Michael Connolly, Ægis Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 571457m, N 875296m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.625090, -8.441983
A levelled fulacht fiadh was identified during testing of a proposed development site in Glebe townland, Killybegs Upper, Co. Donegal. The site was originally noted as a spread of burnt soil, shattered stone and charcoal, c. 20m in diameter.
The main burnt deposit was a firm black soil containing heat-shattered stone and moderate amounts of charcoal, measuring 8m north–south by 6.6m and with a maximum depth of 0.2m at the centre of this area. The layer formed a low dome, higher at the centre and with a minimum depth of 0.05m at the edges. There was no indication of the mound prior to the removal of topsoil.
In the centre of the area there was a compact black clay containing large stones and frequent amounts of charcoal. The large stones were not heat-shattered and measured on average 0.15m by 0.1m by 0.07m. This layer was deposited in an area measuring 1.6m north–south by 1m by 0.25m deep.
Excavation showed that this layer filled a trough cut which was subrectangular/irregular in shape, measuring 1.6m by 1m by 0.25m deep. The cut had a gradual break of slope at the top, concave sides and an irregular base. There was some stone pressed into the base of the cut. No timbers were recovered from the trough area.
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