County: Meath Site name: BALLYNAMONA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0622
Author: Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 670421m, N 778244m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.749060, -6.932311
Monitoring was carried out from 30 April to 8 May 2003 on a proposed quarry site at Ballynamona, Summerhill, Co. Meath, on behalf of Kilsaran Concrete Ltd. The ploughed-out remains of a fulacht fiadh and associated pits were exposed in the south-western corner of the site.
The spread consisted of fire-cracked sandstone and limestone, charcoal-stained clay and flecks of charcoal and had maximum dimensions of 6.35m by 3.5m. Two smaller areas of dispersed burnt-stone material, which measured 1.15m by 1.25m and 3.15m by 2.1m, were located near to the main spread. Two pits and a possible third were also exposed within the area. The first pit was subrectangular in shape and measured 2.5m by 1.15m. The fill consisted of burnt limestone and sandstone fragments and charcoal. The second pit was located south of the first and was also subrectangular, with maximum dimensions of 2.2m by 1.7m; it was filled with burnt limestone and sandstone fragments and charcoal. A third possible pit was located south-west of the first pit and immediately north-east of the fulacht spread. Cut into the natural marl, this feature was irregular in shape and had maximum dimensions of 3.75m by 2.25m. The feature was filled with burnt limestone and sandstone fragments and charcoal and may simply represent an extension of the fulacht spread. As no quarrying activity was to take place in this portion of the site, further excavation of the features did not take place and preservation in situ of the archaeological remains was recommended.
Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
