2009:810 - MONEA, Waterford

Excavation was carried out during June 2009 at the site of a possible fulacht fiadh within the townland of Monea. This site was initially identified during testing of the area prior to the construction of a proposed sewerage pipeline that will form part of the Waterford grouped towns and villages sewerage scheme to the north of Ardmore town (see No. 809 above). The excavation area measured c. 40m east–west by 11m. The prehistoric activity on site consisted of one large, well-defined circular trough, three truncated pits and a hearth. Any remaining evidence of a burnt spread or mound, which would usually be associated with this activity, had not survived. The burnt-mound activity was situated in the eastern portion of the site. Medieval activity in the form of a possible figure-ofeight kiln was evident in the northern part of the site. The site was later truncated by post-medieval field drains and a modern test-pit. These post-medieval features and other related agricultural practices might have removed any previously surviving remains of burnt-mound material.