County: Westmeath Site name: KILBEG (7)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/065, E2694
Author: Ciara MacManus, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Belfast)
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 628944m, N 736176m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.374977, -7.565016
Excavation of a large fulacht fiadh was carried out in advance of construction of the N6 Phase 2: Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway scheme. The site, which was uncovered during pre-development testing works, was excavated over a period of four weeks between March and April 2006. Excavation revealed a large oval mound of charcoal-rich soil and burnt and heat-shattered stone, c. 28m by 18m in size and 0.75m high, beneath which the remains of a wood-lined trough were excavated within the central area of the mound. A probable roasting hearth was excavated to the north-west of the trough, adjacent to which were the possible remains of a stone footing for a hut structure c. 3.5m in diameter. The remains of an informal wooden platform consisting of irregular brushwood deposits were also excavated within the south-east portion of the mound.
East Belfast Enterprise, 308 Albertbridge Road, BT5 4GX
