2004:0751 - GARRAUNDARRAGH, Kerry

The National Roads Authority is undertaking a programme of works to upgrade the N22 between Cork and Tralee. Part of this work involves the realignment of c. 3.8km of the N22 between Gortatlea and Inchinveema townlands, Farranfore, Co. Kerry. A potential fulacht fiadh was identified in the archaeological impact assessment undertaken by Kerry County Council. The extent of the site was tested (No. 757, Excavations 2004, 04E0105) as part of the programme of centre-line and offsets testing of the route of the N22 (No. 756, Excavations 2004, 04E0104) and it was subsequently excavated under this licence. A second fulacht fiadh was recorded 40m to the south by Laurence Dunne while monitoring topsoil-stripping (No. 759, Excavations 2004, 04E1155) and this was subsequently excavated under licence 04E0647 extension.

The well-preserved fulacht fiadh was located in rough, poorly drained pasture close to the southern boundary of Garraundarragh townland. The mound was well preserved, standing to a maximum height of 0.8m, and measured 15m north-south by 14m.

The mound material consisted of small fragments of burnt and heat-shattered sandstone with frequent amounts of charcoal-enriched silt. The material included patches of redeposited yellow/white natural clay subsoil. Two large troughs were located under the north-western portion of the mound. The natural clay subsoil would have been very suitable for retaining water.

Trough C7 measured 4.4m by 3.1m by 1.05m in depth. It was non-symmetrical in plan. The base was located in the west. Four fills were recorded in the trough. The main mound layer formed the upper fill. The underlying fill was a grey/black charcoal-enriched silt with 80% heat-shattered sandstone. It was on average 0.5m deep. The lower silt was black and charcoal-enriched. It was on average 0.12m deep. The base of the trough was lined with a compact white clay, 0.1m on average in depth.

The second trough was located beside and to the east of the first. A possible overflow channel connected the two. The channel measured c. 0.3m north-south by 0.7m. No evidence of a recut was recorded but the plan would suggest that it may initially have been rectangular and that a substantially deeper circular section was dug in the south-west corner. The rectangular section measured c. 1.7m north-south by 2.4m and was 0.5m deep. The circular section measured c. 1.2m north-south by 1.7m and was 1.2m deep. The circular section functioned like a well. It was cut vertically below the water table or into a rising spring and was filling with water. The base of the 'well' was flat. Three fills were recorded in the trough. The upper constituted the main layer in the mound. Underneath was a soft mid-grey silt which included 50% large unburnt stones. A yellow sand was recorded in the base of the circular section. Five fragments of timber were recovered. Two of the fragments are oak stakes, with numerous cut marks visible on the broad and side faces. The presence of the timber would suggest that the circular section was timber-lined.

The second fulacht fiadh had been levelled and was located c. 40m to the south in rough, poorly drained pasture close to the townland boundaries of Garraundarragh and Urrohogal. The mound was disturbed to the north by a modern field bank with associated drainage ditches on either side. The construction of the boundary may well have been the action that levelled the mound. Amorphous in plan, the mound had maximum dimensions of 17m north-south by 9.5m by 0.3m in depth. Two distinct layers were recorded in the mound. The lower layer survived only beneath the boundary field bank. A trough and a shallow pit were recorded beneath the mound.

The trough was located 1.3m north of the southern limit of the fulacht fiadh. Sub-oval in plan and orientated north-south, it measured 1.52m by 1.2m by 0.4m in depth. Three fills were recorded within it. Above these fills the trough was sealed by the main mound layer. The trough was cut into the natural clay subsoil. Inclement weather persisted during the excavation, filling the trough with water that had to be removed because of the impermeability of the subsoil. The pit was located 3.3m north-northeast of the trough and was recorded beneath the mound. Subcircular in plan, it measured 0.58m north-south by 0.62m by 0.12m in depth. Two fills were recorded within the pit and the lower included fragments of burnt clay and iron slag.

The variation in terms of the size and inclusions contained within the fills of the troughs of both mounds would suggest that the sites might have served a different purpose. Further post-excavation and specialist analysis may help to confirm this.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork