2006:1267 - GORTNALAHAGH, Limerick

The remains of a burnt-mound feature were identified as part of test-trenching the proposed N7 route in early 2006. The burnt spread was located in a depression on the top of a low hillock. The centre of this depression was permanently waterlogged during the course of the excavation, but none of the archaeological remains extended this far. The burnt material was instead spread along the southern edge of the waterlogged area and extended 7m north at the eastern end. This was a large homogeneous deposit of burnt stone and silt (31.5m east–west by 9.75m). The burnt spread was, on average, 0.15–0.2m thick. At some locations a grey layer formed the interface between the fulacht material and the underlying natural. Occasionally beneath the spread, a mid-brown/grey layer represented the ground surface prior to fulacht activity.

Three large features were uncovered below the main spread. In the eastern portion of the site a well-defined trough cut was filled by material very similar to the burnt material above the cut. The absence of any organic material within the trough may suggest that, once disused, the trough was almost immediately backfilled by further fulacht activity. This trough was oval in plan, 2.2m by 1.4m and 0.45m deep, with steep sides and a flat base. A second trough was found centrally placed in the western portion of the site. This trough cut was subcircular, 1.8m by 2m and also 0.45m deep, with moderately sloped sides, and was generally less uniform than the first trough. It contained a single fill of burnt stone and silt with a small organic content. The third cut feature was located on the northern edge of the burnt spread at a lower level than the previous troughs. Again, the fills comprised burnt fulacht material and the cut appeared linear but was formed of three separate but joined cuts. The first was positioned at the eastern end and was a small circular pit cut, 1.2m by 1.2m and 0.53m deep. Cutting the latter on the north-west side, a rectangular pit cut, 2.22m by 1.36m and 0.31m deep, fits the size and shape of a potential trough. This in turn was truncated along most of its north-western side by a broadly subcircular cut. Its longest axis was aligned north-west/south-east (2.2m) and from the south-east it gradually stepped down 0.72m to the base. This was always below the water table during excavation. The north-western side of this pit was vertically cut. Due to its depth, it is unlikely to have functioned as a trough but instead probably functioned as a well during dry periods.

A modern well was also situated on the site, 1.6m north of the western portion of the fulacht fiadh. This circular well, diameter 1.1m, was lined with stone and reached a depth of 3.4m. The well itself was located at the eastern side of a deposit that was backfilled around the well after its construction. This backfill contained modern pottery and metal barrels. According to local information, the well had been covered about ten years ago.

A single find was recovered from the topsoil layer. This stray find is a crudely struck flake of chert or black limestone. All deposits were sampled and post-excavation analysis is ongoing.

32 Nicholas Street, King’s Island, Limerick