County: Cork Site name: AUGHINIDA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1039
Author: Ellinor Larsson, Arch-Tech Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 537191m, N 575914m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.931796, -8.913321
A fulacht fiadh was identified and partially disturbed during monitored topsoil-stripping by Stephen Johnston (01E1210, no summary provided) at Aughinida, Clashavoon, and excavation ensued in July 2002 before the construction of an ESB substation. The monument covered an area measuring c. 40m south-east/north-west by 10.4m. An area of the site measuring c. 15m north–south by 10m was exposed during monitoring, just 0.5m east of a field boundary, and was subsequently excavated to form part of a buffer zone to protect the remainder of the monument from further disturbance.
Before excavation, the oval mound appeared as a slightly raised, grass-covered area with gorse bushes growing on the surface. The mound consisted of two main deposits and was 0.5m in maximum height. The upper deposit consisted of fragments of burnt and fire-cracked sandstone mixed with loose, dark brown, sandy clay with occasional inclusions of charcoal flecks and was heavily disturbed by tree roots. The stones were angular, measuring 0.05–0.11m in diameter. The primary, undisturbed deposit of the mound was black and consisted of burnt and fire-cracked sandstone mixed with charcoal-stained, silty clay. These stones were much smaller, averaging 0.01–0.04m in diameter. The subsoil was a firm, white, fine, silty clay with a light pink hue and appeared to have been affected by heat in the area close to the mound material.
A trough was revealed in the western extent of the site, measuring 1.8m north–south by 1.6m by 0.4m deep. The cut was irregular in plan, with vertical sides and a flat base, and was lined on the western side by slabs averaging 0.4m high and 0.16m wide. These were set vertically, resting directly on the bottom of the trough. The cut was partially capped by a large, subrectangular, granite boulder to the south, 0.8m wide and 1.1m long. The fill of the trough was similar to the two separate fills of the mound.
A concentration of stake-holes was situated directly to the east of the trough, in the shape of an arc/semicircle with the open end facing north. The size and shape of the stake-holes were uniform, and the fills were also identical to the primary, undisturbed deposit of the burnt mound.
A circular pit was situated to the north of the spread. The cut, with sharp sides and a flat base, measured 1.6m east–west by 1.2m and was 0.45m deep. The fill was a loose, brown, silty clay with frequent inclusions of fire-cracked stones.
No finds were discovered. Samples were extracted from the features for environmental, dendrochronological and charcoal analysis. No definite date has yet been obtained for the use of the site.
32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
