County: Down Site name: CARRICKNAVEAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/01/23
Author: Chris Long, ADS
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 737421m, N 861398m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.482419, -5.879251
During topsoil-stripping as part of the Mourne Conduit Replacement Scheme (Aquarius Project) the remains of a fulacht fiadh were recorded at the base of an east-facing drumlin.
The burnt mound measured approximately 4.8m north–south by 3.6m and extended east from the cut of the trough. It consisted of a single layer, a charcoal-rich silty clay with moderate quantities of heat-fractured stone, 0.05m deep.
The cross-section of the trough indicated that it had been recut during its period of use. The initial trough was oval in plan and measured 2.6m north–south by 2.1m. It was cut into subsoil to a depth of 0.7m. The base was lined with a series of thin wooden planks, which averaged 1.3m in length by 0.2m in width. The remainder of the base was lined with a plastic orange clay, into which was set a number of large flat stones. The trough was filled with a series of clays distinguishable by their varying charcoal and burnt stone content.
The recut trough was roughly oval in plan and measured 1.6m north–south by 1.2m. It was cut into the fills of the initial trough to a depth of 0.55m. The base and sides were lined with a mid-grey plastic clay with a maximum thickness of 0.15m. It was filled with a series of charcoal-rich silty clays, which contained moderate quantities of heat-fractured stone.
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