2005:685 - DROMORE, Kerry

An excavation was carried in advance of a proposed development consisting of a housing estate and ancillary site works at Dromore, Farranfore, Co. Kerry, in response to the findings of earlier testing by Jacinta Kiely of Eachtra (Excavations 2002, No. 792, 01E0812). Prior to excavation, the monument was represented by a subcircular mound in a boggy area.

The fulacht fiadh was roughly circular, measuring 15m in diameter. The main body of the fulacht fiadh, which was directly overlying peat deposits measuring 0.65m in depth, consisted of heat-shattered stone and charcoal in a black silty matrix. A single-entity AMS two-sigma date of 1326–1128 cal BC came from this layer. This mound material was relatively uniform and no distinct phases of activity could be identified. A number of large oak planks were uncovered near the base of the main mound material. They were loosely arranged in a linear fashion with a north-east/south-west orientation and appeared to have been deliberately deposited. The timbers consisted of two large planks and three smaller fragments of wood, all of which were straight and regular in form. These were located in the wettest area of the mound. The linear arrangement of the timbers, together with the regular shape, would suggest that they were deliberately deposited. The presence of burnt-mound material beneath the timbers would further imply that they were intentionally positioned there after the fulacht fiadh had been established. The function of the planks is not certain; they could have served as a rough trackway. We know from the peat below that the area was bog at the time the fulacht fiadh was in use and even a trackway of this type would have facilitated access to the site. No trough was identified throughout the excavated area, suggesting that a trough may have been located some distance away. The trackway may have been used to transport waste material away from a trough.

Unit 4b, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork