County: Kerry Site name: BALLYBUNION: Church Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0147
Author: Niamh O’Callaghan, Barrow Archaeological Services
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 486624m, N 641647m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.514400, -9.670393
In January 2006 topsoil-stripping commenced at a development of eighteen houses, during which time a black silt matrix with shattered stones was revealed. The feature was situated on the proposed access road to the rear of the development, in front of the presbytery associated with the nearby modern Roman Catholic church and adjacent to a disused well. Due to its location, an emergency excavation licence was issued and the area was fully excavated in early February.
The black silt and shattered stone layer, F3, was the remains of a levelled fulacht fiadh, which measured 27m by 17m, was sub-oval in plan and was aligned east–west. It formed a low bank in line with and abutting the enclosed garden wall, but no trace of the layer was found inside the garden. The layer was spread out and extended almost as far as the footpath in front of the parochial house. The remains of the mound were up to 0.7m deep and became shallower towards the edges. The layer was removed in quadrants and three cut features were located in the northern section, F8, F10 and F11. All were filled with F3, but only F8 was diagnostic and most likely the trough, while F10 and F11 were analogous shallow pits. F8 filled quickly with water, as it was located over a natural spring, while a disused well was also located c. 14m to the south-west.
Sandy Lane, Barrow, Ardfert, Co. Kerry
