2005:1211 - LESHEMSTOWN, Meath

The site was excavated as part of the Dunshauglin to Castletown Tara sewerage scheme. It was situated on a low mound within a natural basin into which surface water from the higher ground to the north, east and west drained freely. In addition, the River Skane passed immediately to the south of the site, which in turn meant the land here was constantly waterlogged. At the time of excavation the area was in agricultural use for very poor-quality pasture. It is unlikely that the land here was ever under any form of tillage.

The site was dominated by a large north–south-oriented mound of fulacht material, measuring 15m by 12m, that extended beyond the southern limits of the site and towards the River Skane. During the initial testing phase, directed by Red Tobin (Excavations 2004, No. 1236, 04E1499), a number of possible wooden stakes were identified in the area immediately to the north and west of the mound. This resolution excavation uncovered a considerable number of additional stakes in the same area, presenting the possibility of a small platform or associated causeway that would have connected the mound to the drier, higher ground that surrounds the site on three sides. Upon excavation, however, the vast majority of these were discounted, having been shown to be the result of root activity. However, a small number of hand-cut stakes were uncovered to the west of the mound, although these were too few to establish any pattern.

The fulacht fiadh itself would seem only to represent the latest phase of activity here. The mound on which it was situated was comprised of a hillock of orange silty clay that would seem to have formed naturally upon natural gravel deposits in the area, possibly due to the deposition of river silts. This probably represented the first time any habitable land was available within this basin and soon after some limited human activity was taking place on top of this mound. This produced a small spread of burnt material that was associated with an arrangement of nine stake-holes confined to the southern part of the site (these may form one end of a rectangular structure that extends beyond the southern extent of the site).

This would seem to have been a relatively brief, perhaps even seasonal, period of occupation before the site was abandoned again and a new layer of orange silty clay, perhaps deposited by river action, once more was deposited over the site, in turn creating a larger, more pronounced, mound. It was at this stage that the actual fulacht fiadh was constructed. This consisted of a rectangular trough feature measuring 1.8m by 1.25m in the more northerly part of the mound, which had been lined by carefully trimmed pieces of wood that had been tightly jammed on to the base of the trough. These consisted mainly of pieces of roundwood that had been simply cut at each end, although there may also have been two planks or split pieces of roundwood. In addition, several sharpened stakes were recovered from each of the four corners of the trough, suggesting the presence of an associated structure.

The associated fulacht/burnt mound was comprised of two discrete deposits of burnt material. The first of these was restricted to the southern part of the mound and was comprised of several layers of typical fulacht material. A small egg-shaped pit measuring 1.4m by 1.1m was uncovered within this concentration of material. This had been cut into the top layer of fulacht material before any topsoil formation or vegetation growth had taken place. Upon closer investigation, it became clear that this was a north–south-oriented grave cut that contained the articulated remains of one individual, probably an adult female, who had been tightly jammed into the cut. She was laid on her right-hand side and in a crouched position. There were no associated grave goods. A radiocarbon date obtained from the burial suggested a year of death between 1260 and 1020 BC.

Following the disposal of this first mound of material, an attempt had been made to reclaim some of the land on the northern edge of the mound, thus extending its surface area and with it the life-span of the fulacht. In order to achieve this, a crescent-shaped bank of gravel, stone and clay was constructed along the northern edge of the mound. This was successful and there is evidence that the areas enclosed by this bank saw the formation of new soils and sod layers associated with the silting and drying up of standing water.

The second deposit of fulacht material, which was restricted to the northern part of the mound, sealed much of this made ground. It would seem that this was the final activity on site and shortly afterwards it was abandoned.

In the intervening period a considerable amount of overburden built up, sealing this activity and reaching as much as 0.95m in depth. These soils were heavily disturbed and diffused by successive episodes of flooding.

Unit 4, Dundrum Business Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14