2006:2055 - Macetown, Westmeath

Unlicensed monitoring in advance of the realignment of the N52 uncovered a burnt spread near the eastern end of the scheme. This was situated on a small hillock adjacent to peatland. The site was identified as a fulacht fiadh at the time of topsoil-stripping. This burnt material varied in depth but was generally 0.25m deep and spread across an area of 20m by 8m. However, the full extent of the site was beyond the road-take and therefore not excavated, so the true northern extent remains unknown. Beneath the spread of burnt material, the excavation revealed three small pit cuts, a trough and a large centrally placed pit. The small pits were also filled with burnt material and the trough was shallow but well defined. The position of the trough in the east of the site was quite high in relation to the surrounding ground surface. The large centrally placed pit was also filled with burnt material and was at a lower level than the trough. The central pit cut was ovate, with a maximum diameter of 4.5m and a depth of 0.86m. On the south-western side, the pit edge was more gradual, perhaps having been originally quarried from here. It may also have operated as a well during drier periods.