County: Kerry Site name: Woodview Place, Tarbert
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 19E0546
Author: Graham Hull, TVAS (Ireland) Ltd
Site type: Fulachtaí fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 506350m, N 647990m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.575136, -9.381666
Excavation at the site of a proposed housing scheme revealed two fulachtaí fiadh, each characterised by a burnt stone spread and multiple troughs. The monuments had been identified by testing under the same licence earlier in 2019 (Michael Connolly).
Three broad phases were identified, representing archaeological activity, later agricultural activity and modern disturbance.
The main phase of use of the site is currently undated but likely to be Bronze Age and may in fact prove to have several sub-phases. This activity was represented by seven troughs associated with two burnt stone spreads. The burnt stone spreads were crescent and sub-circular shaped, measuring 11.5m by 6.2m and 11.8m by 9.14m and were composed mostly of grey to black silt with a high frequency of heat-shattered stone and occasional charcoal inclusions. The troughs varied in shape and profile and were 1.2-1.9m long, 0.8-1.9m wide and 0.2-0.58m deep with some displaying limited evidence of wood or stone lining. The trough fills were mostly composed of burnt stone material similar to the overlying spreads.
There was limited evidence of post-medieval agricultural activity represented by three drains and modern disturbance was also noted, relating to the construction and removal of a large electricity pylon that sat on a concrete plinth between the two burnt stone spreads.
No artefacts were recovered from the site and final dating of the activity awaits the results of radiocarbon dating.
Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare
