County: Mayo Site name: GORTAROE (I)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0650 ext.
Author: Richard Gillespie
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 500244m, N 785191m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.806680, -9.514551
These sites were discovered during topsoil removal for the Westport Main Drainage and Waste-Water Disposal Scheme. Four concentrations of burnt stone and charcoal, typical fulacht fiadh material, were identified. One of these, Area 4, was excavated in 2001 (Excavations 2001, No. 911, 01E0650). Areas 1–3 were excavated in 2002.
When Areas 1 and 2 were fully cleaned back the ploughed-out remains of two fulachta fiadh were seen to merge into a large spread of charcoal and heat-fractured stones along the pipe wayleave over an area of 10m by 12m and continue beyond the wayleave. Associated features included the remains of two possible lined troughs and two unlined pits. Several modern finds, including clay-pipe fragments, were recovered from this area.
The best-preserved trough was to the west of the spread; it consisted of a cut in the boulder clay, roughly oval, measuring 1.47m by 1.07m, and was 0.4m deep. It was filled with mound material and peat. The poorly preserved remains of a split plank lining survived at the sides, and the trough was divided internally by seven stakes along its short axis. An adjacent pit was subcircular, measuring 1.3m by 1.35m, and was 0.3m deep.
The remains of a probable second trough lay to the east of the area. It consisted of a subcircular cut, 0.67m in diameter and 0.09m deep; it was flanked by seven stakes, which may have supported a wicker lining.
An unlined pit was also excavated in the north-west of the area. It was also subcircular, measuring 1.2m by 1.1m, and was 0.15m deep.
The fulacht fiadh in Area 3 was 25m to the east of Areas 1 and 2. It consisted of a very substantial mound of heat-fractured stones in a compact, charcoal-rich matrix, measuring 11.5m by 10.75m by 0.75m thick. A shallow spread of heat-fractured stones continued a further 5m to the north. A shallow hollow in the north of the mound overlay a complex trough feature.
This trough feature consisted of a roughly hewn oak plank, 2.62m by 0.5m by 0.18m in maximum thickness. It had a single upright flagstone set into peat and abutting its north-east end and three smaller upright flagstones aligned parallel to its eastern side and set into mound material. This may be the remains of a second trough or related activity. The line of stones is probably a revetment to hold back the mound. The remains of a more definite trough occurred directly beneath the plank. It consisted of up to five stakes, four of which were preserved. Their arrangement indicates that the trough was subrectangular, c. 1m by 0.8m, with only a sandy base surviving, containing traces of basal timbers.
Seven bones and a hammerstone were recovered from this area, suggesting its possible use as a cooking site.
Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
