2012:82a - GORTGARRAUN, Clare

Gortgarraun 1 was located on the proposed Coonagh – Knockalisheen Distributor Road. The excavation revealed a fulacht fiadh with two trough pits and three smaller burnt stone spreads. A Palaeolithic channel was also recorded across the site.

The fulacht fiadh measured 7.2m by 5.8m with a depth between 0.08m to 0.1m. The first trough pit measured 1.3m by 0.88m and 0.14-0.17m deep, was sub-rectangular in shape and contained a basal fill that was more charcoal-rich than the fulacht fiadh material. Two flat stones were located in the base of the pit. The second trough pit was 1.48m by 1m and 0.1-0.28m deep, also sub-rectangular in shape and contained a single deposit of charcoal-rich silty sand with occasional heat-shattered stone.

The three smaller burnt stone spreads were much degraded and measured 2.6m by 2.1m and 0.02m deep; 4m by 1.5-2m and 0.03-0.06m deep and 4.38m by 2.67m and 0.06-0.24m deep.