2007:1312 - Site 13, Ferrans, Meath

Site 13, Ferrans, was excavated in April 2007. The site was identified during testing carried out in advance of the realignment of R158 between Summerhill and Kilcock, undertaken on behalf of Meath County Council. It was located in a low-lying area to the east of R158 and within the realignment of this road. The excavation encompassed an area measuring 15m north–south by 13m and was located at 92m OD. The site appeared to extend to the west beyond the limit of excavation, which was determined by the extent of the road-take.
Site 13 consisted of a portion of a possible fulacht fiadh/burnt mound, including two main spreads with inclusions of heat-fractured stones and charcoal, a small number of underlying pits and six possibly associated wooden stakes. The pits were irregular in plan and were located beneath the largest of the spreads and contained fills with high concentrations of heat-fractured stones and charcoal. None of the pits appear to have functioned as a trough. Six unworked wooden stakes were found in the area of the larger of the two main spreads, of which five appeared within the perimeter, and were pushed into the natural clay to a maximum depth of 0.65m. The stakes did not form any apparent pattern, and it is uncertain if these are contemporary with the burnt mound. Analysis of wood and soil samples is ongoing and is likely to reveal a possible relationship between these features.
The archaeological features were interpreted as part of a fulacht fiadh/burnt mound, and were likely to be of prehistoric date. A modern drain and several narrow agricultural linear features constituted later disturbance to the site. There were no finds recovered from the site. An additional site, Site 12 (see No. 1311 above, 07E0162), was situated 20m north of Site 13 and was excavated within the same scheme; it consisted of a number of pits and spreads, provisionally attributed a late medieval date.