2006:1085 - Newrath, Kilkenny

A levelled fulacht fiadh was uncovered during testing (see No. 1084 above, E3197) in a recently cleared area of woodland on the line of the N25 Waterford bypass in Newrath townland. The removal of the topsoil over an area measuring 1600m2 revealed that the fulacht fiadh extended 15.5m north of the stream and measured 12.5m east–west. It ranged in depth from 0.05m at the outer edges to 1.26m near the centre of the site. Following removal of the burnt material, an unlined rectangular trough, measuring 2.2m east–west by 1.4m wide and 0.3m deep, was uncovered as a cut into the subsoil close to the edge of the stream. A small fire-pit was uncovered adjacent to the north end of the trough and was also cut into the subsoil. This measured 1.6m east–west by 2.2m and 0.1m deep and its concave sides came to a flat base. The fill materials extended above the top of the pit and consisted of a charcoal-rich deposit, measuring 1.68m east–west by 1.1m wide and 0.2m deep, overlying a flat stone surface measuring 1.42m north–south by 1.3m wide. This stone surface was formed by ten, heat-cracked flat stones which rested on the base of the pit.
A number of charcoal and soil samples were recovered from the basal fire-pit and trough and these will be analysed for dating and environmental purposes. There were no archaeological deposits or finds uncovered in the investigated area surrounding this site.