2001:954 - COLP WEST, Meath

Monitoring of Phase 3 at Colp West, Co. Meath, which covered an area of 61,000m2, was conducted in September 2001. Three fulachta fiadh were exposed during the monitoring of the topsoil-stripping and were subsequently excavated. The site lies to the south-west of the medieval borough of Colp, south-west of an Early Christian cemetery and enclosure (SMR 21:11) and north-east of a multi-period site (see No. 952, Excavations 2001, 99E0472). No surface trace of the fulachta fiadh was visible prior to the removal of the topsoil. All three were heavily ploughed out, which resulted in the reduction and dispersion of the burnt stone.

Fulacht 1 was exposed north-west of Fulacht 2. This fulacht spread was removed down to the natural boulder clay/marl, and two underlying troughs (F14 A and B) and associated water channels were exposed, all of which were cut into the natural boulder clay. The trough F14 A was suboval in shape. A possible associated water channel extended in a north-west to south-east direction from the western extent of F14 A towards the north-eastern extent of F14 B. F14 B was south-west of F14 A and was subrectangular in shape. A second possible water channel was exposed south of F14 B. No finds were recovered from this site and a charcoal sample recovered from F14 returned a radiocarbon date of 3830 ± 70 BP (cal. BP 4420–4060).

Fulacht 2 was south-east of Fulacht 1 and north of Fulacht 3. This fulacht spread consisted of two separate spreads, F16/F17. Spread F16 was located at the western edge of the site. It was removed down to the natural boulder clay/marl and a single post-hole was exposed. Spread F17 was located within two areas of the site, to the south-east and to the north-east. Two features were exposed beneath F17 — a trough and an oval depression. A second trough, F18, was exposed west of F16 and east of F17. Five stake-holes, which varied in diameter from 0.07m to 0.09m and in depth from 0.07m to 0.08m, were cut into the base of this feature.

A subcircular slot-trench with an internal diameter north–south of 2.15m and an external diameter north–south of 2.95m cut the western and southern extent of F18. The small size of this feature coupled with the absence of occupational evidence from its interior would suggest that it did not function as a hut but could have functioned as a temporary meat store. A semicircular slot-trench, which was visible in two sections, was exposed south of the slot-trench. The gap between the two sections could have functioned as an entrance. A single find was recovered from this site — a polished whetstone was recovered from the fill of the pit F19. A charcoal sample taken from this feature (F19) returned a radiocarbon date of 3910 ± 70 BP (cal. BC 2580–2200).

Fulacht 3 was located south of Fulacht 2 and east of a large multi-period settlement site (see No. 952, Excavations 2001). This fulacht spread was on low-lying ground that sloped slightly from south to north. A possible watercourse was identified north of the fulacht spread and was probably used in conjunction with the fulacht fiadh. This site consisted of the heavily ploughed-out fulacht spread to the south (F29) and an extremely large hole (F25), which once contained the remains of a large tree, to the north. F25 was badly disturbed by the tree roots from an existing site boundary to the west. The uppermost fill consisted of fulacht material. This was probably pushed into this feature when the fulacht spread, which lay to its south, was levelled. A rectangular slot-trench, F30, was cut into the fulacht spread. This had an internal diameter north–south of 2.9m and an external diameter north–south of 3.55m, and probably had a similar function to F20/F21. No finds were recovered from this site. Animal bone recovered from the fill of this feature returned a radiocarbon date of 2740 ± 70 BP (cal. BC 1030–800). This would reinforce the idea that F25 was opened prior to the construction of the fulacht fiadh as charcoal from the fulacht material returned a radiocarbon date of 2420 ± 60 BP (cal. BC 780–390).