County: Mayo Site name: ATTIREESH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0649 ext.
Author: Richard Gillespie
Site type: Fulachta fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 500105m, N 785339m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.807982, -9.516709
Two fulachta fiadh, Areas 1 and 2, were excavated in 2001 (Excavations 2001, No. 884, 01E0649). Both sites, which were within 20m of each other, contained well-preserved wooden troughs with outer linings of moss, associated with burnt mounds and occasional chert flakes and bone. A large amount of worked wood, including the cut ends of three large posts, was recovered from Area 2, where a rough togher or artificial shoring was constructed. Two additional fulachta fiadh, Areas 3 and 4, were excavated in 2002. They were both within 30m of Areas 1 and 2.
Area 3 consisted of a burnt mound and wood-lined trough with an outer lining of moss. The mound measured 6.7m east–west by a maximum of 6m and had a maximum thickness of 0.36m.
The trough was filled with mound material and peat that was interspersed with loose timbers, some of which had charred surfaces. This fill lay directly on the wood lining and a sandy layer at the base of the trough.
The wood lining delimited the extent of the trough. It was subrectangular, measuring 1.36m north–south by 1.3m, and had a maximum depth of 0.33m. This lining varied in the density of in situ timbers and was composed of roundwoods, brushwoods and occasional twigs.
The eastern, southern and part of the western sides were incomplete, with as few as two elements surviving. There were only two timbers set into the base of the trough. This absence of timbers, along with the in situ surviving timbers, implies that the trough was fully lined when in use and that many of the timbers were removed when the fulacht fiadh went out of use.
The northern corner contained the best-preserved wood. Here longitudinal timbers met at right angles and were tightly interlocked. The ends of all of these timbers were cut, retaining well-preserved facets or axemarks. These were held in position by a corner stake. It is likely that a similar style of construction had existed in the other three corners of the trough, as they had similar or larger stakes.
The horizontal timbers included light brushwood, heavy brushwood and some roundwoods. The quality of the remaining wood suggests that the trough was once fully lined in the manner of Area 2. This lining rested on moss and a thin sandy deposit.
Area 4 was a possible fulacht fiadh consisting of a mound of heat-fractured stones in a charcoal-rich matrix of peaty clay resting on peat. It measured 6.2m north–south by 3.25m and was 0.3m thick. An associated feature consisted of an accumulation of relatively large, flat stones, some angular burnt stones and concentrated charcoal in a shallow hollow in the peat. This may be the remains of a removed or destroyed trough. There was no other evidence of a trough associated with this mound. Aside from the worked wood, there were no small finds from these areas.
Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
