County: Kildare Site name: FRENCH FURZE, Tully East
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0541
Author: Ros Ó Maoldúin, Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Structure, Hearth, Pit and Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 673665m, N 710280m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.137954, -6.899027
This project was financed by the National Roads Authority through Kildare County Council. The excavation was conducted in two phases during May and July 2002.
This site was identified during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of the Kildare Bypass and lay at the north-eastern edge of the Curragh Plains, on a gentle south-facing slope. The area is known as French Furze and is situated just off French Furze Road, in the townland of Tully East, c. 1km south-east of Kildare town. The site extended over a length of c. 70m along the route of the bypass. The excavation uncovered a substantial number of pits and post- and stake-holes. Although most of these were seemingly scattered features, with no obvious interrelation, two central foci of activity were identified.
A concentration of stake- and post-holes was observed on the eastern side of the site. No pattern could be discerned. One of the post-holes contained a large, well-preserved sherd of a prehistoric vessel with incised decoration. Nearby, two inter-connected, shallow, bowl-shaped features produced some charcoal and ashy material. There was evidence of in situ burning around the edges of these features. This may be the remains of a small hearth. Three flint flakes were found in this possible hearth.
A small isolated pit lay 30m to the west of this activity. It contained five sherds of badly preserved pottery, similar in type to that recovered to the east.
To the west and south of the site, four pits constituted another focus of activity. All contained charcoal-rich soil and fire-cracked quartz stone, indicative of fulacht fiadh material. A small stream runs c. 30m south of the affected area, and it is likely that these features are associated with a burnt mound.
Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
