2001:666 - CARTON DEMESNE (Site 5), Maynooth, Kildare

The fulacht fiadh was in an area of flat, low-lying land. The topsoil was removed mechanically during testing to identify the nature and extent of the burnt spread. During the excavation the shallow remnants of the burnt mound (average depth 0.06m) were cleaned by hand and a tertiary flint flake was recovered. The burnt mound had been ploughed out owing to its topographical location and the history of cultivation and land change associated with the demesne land. An agricultural land drain, cut through the centre of the burnt mound material, widened and deepened along its length (maximum width 1.1m, maximum depth 0.33m) as it curved sharply from a north-westerly to a south-westerly direction. One basal sherd of modern glass was recovered from the fill of the land drain.

A circular pit, with a maximum diameter of 1.1m east–west and a maximum depth of 0.24m, was situated immediately to the west of the fulacht fiadh. The fill of the pit consisted of angular and subrounded stones, none of which were either burnt or fire-cracked. One lump of lime mortar was recovered from the fill of the pit. The pit was a modern feature and was not associated with the fulacht fiadh.

The fulacht fiadh contained two troughs, both of which were filled with burnt stone with a high concentration of charcoal. Trough A was subcircular, with gently sloping sides and a relatively flat base. It measured 2.4m north–south by 2m, with a depth of 0.52m.

Trough B was kidney-shaped and measured 2.6m north–south by a maximum of 1.5m. The fill consisted of relatively compact burnt mound material, with 40% of the stone being fire-cracked. The stones in the fill were predominantly subangular and subrounded sandstone less than 0.1m in diameter.

No artefacts were recovered from within the fill of either of the troughs. No carbonised seeds were found in the deposits associated with the fulacht fiadh.

39 Trees Road, Mount Merrion