County: Mayo Site name: BALLINA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0952
Author: Sue Zajac, Ballina Civic Offices, Mayo County Council
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 524479m, N 819049m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.114948, -9.155069
Mayo County Council are building a relief road to feed traffic through the western environs of Ballina town. During monitoring for assessment purposes, a spread of burnt stone and charcoal was uncovered in a low-lying area adjacent to a dried-out pond. The deposit was shallow and disturbed and was spread over a wide area.
Excavations over a three-week period uncovered the remains of two troughs cut into subsoil underlying the burnt material. Each trough had a second, shallow cut beside it that seemed to be associated and may have functioned for storage. One of these cuts was kidney-shaped in plan.
The first excavated trough was oval in plan and showed evidence of having been recut and enlarged. A second trough at a distance of c. 25m from the first was rectangular in plan with a wooden plank lining and a post-hole in each corner. It may be possible to date the site using charcoal from the trough fills that are presently being analysed. No small finds were uncovered.
Dillon Terrace, Ballina, Co. Mayo
