County: Clare Site name: LEVEL CROSSING XE82, GORTAFICKA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 11E0395
Author: Colm Flynn
Site type: Fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 539620m, N 688559m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.944428, -8.898376
Excavation of a fulacht fiadh/burnt mound was conducted at the site of the proposed upgrade to a level crossing on the Ennis to Athenry rail line at XE82 in Gortaficka, Crusheen. The site was identified during monitoring of development works under licence 10E0216 (above, No. 65). The excavation was carried out in October 2011 on behalf of Roughan & O’Donovan Ltd and Iarnród Éireann.
The excavation revealed a moderately sized fulacht fiadh/burnt mound comprising two partially stone-lined troughs, one unlined trough with multiple stake-holes, a well or large pit and a number of smaller subcircular pits. All of these features were sealed by a truncated burnt spread that measured 10m x 12m. Several possible flint and chert lithic debitage artefacts were also recovered from one trough.
Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
