County: Laois Site name: CURRAGH (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/102, E2212
Author: Eamonn Cotter, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 634131m, N 681438m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.882741, -7.492899
The site was excavated in May 2006 as part of the programme of resolution of archaeological sites on the route of the proposed M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme.
Three separate cuttings were opened, Areas A–C. In Area A topsoil-stripping revealed a large spread of burnt stone measuring c. 26m by 14m, with a maximum depth of 0.7m. A number of features were found under the burnt spread, the principal of which was an oval pit measuring 3m by 2.6m and 1m deep. The fills of this feature were silty sand, with only occasional burnt stone. A magnetic susceptibility survey of the site showed that this pit had not been heated and it is likely that it was a well, an interpretation supported by the fact that water welled up within the feature when excavated. Five other pits averaging 2.2m by 1.2m and 0.3m deep were shown by magnetic susceptibility testing to have been heated and it is likely they were heating troughs. All five were filled with a mixture of burnt stone and redeposited natural.
A second fulacht fiadh was located c. 40m to the north, in Area B. Here there was a small spread of burnt stone, c. 5m by 5m, and two troughs, one rectangular measuring 2.15m by 1m and 0.27m deep, the other subcircular and measuring 1.35m by 1m and 0.4m deep. An area of burnt clay with a cluster of post- and stake-holes around it, located c. 4m from the troughs, may have been the location of the hearth used to heat stones.
In Area C, c. 30m north-west of Area B, a small spread of burnt stone, c. 3m in diameter, was found. No features were found associated with it.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
