County: Dublin Site name: Food Central, Barberstown, St. Margaret's
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0008 & 22E0008 ext.
Author: Marc Piera
Site type: Fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 714201m, N 745004m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.442734, -6.280975
Archaeological excavation and monitoring were carried out at the site of Food Central, St. Margaret’s, Co. Dublin in March 2022. The excavations followed on from a programme of testing undertaken in January 2022. The testing identified a fulacht fiadh/burnt mound spread which was recorded as Archaeological Area 1 (AA1).
Upon excavation it was revealed that the fulacht fiadh/burnt mound spread (AA1) consisted of a shallow spread of mixed black sandy clay and grey clay with frequent charcoal and heat-shattered stones extending c. 4.5m long by 3m wide. Two pits were located a few meters outside the spread and a further two beneath it which have been interpreted as troughs. A final pit was identified cutting the spread and one of the troughs, and represents the latest activity on the site. Two linear features, a stone drain and a ditch, cross the site and were interpreted as being of modern agricultural origin.
The final interpretation of the site will be determined by the analysis and dating of the samples taken from the excavated features during the post-excavation stage, which is currently ongoing.
c/o IAC Archaeology, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
