2023:720 - Ballynora, Waterfall, Cork

Archaeological testing was carried out here in May 2023 when five trenches were excavated on the site. Ex situ deposits of fulacht fiadh material were identified adjacent to the buffer zone of the fulacht. The recorded location of the fulacht fiadh was identified and secured within a fenced buffer zone.

Archaeological monitoring was carried out in September 2023; three spreads of fulacht fiadh material were revealed adjacent to the fulacht fiadh buffer zone. Spread 1 (3.3m by 3m) was the closest to the buffer zone and overlay parts of two rectangular troughs (Troughs 1 and 2) and a possible hearth site. Trough 1 was oriented north-west/south-east and its exposed section measured 1.56m long by 1.4m wide by 0.65m deep. It had steeply sloping sides with a possible step approximately 0.4m from the top on the western side. Two ex-situ slabs in the fill suggested that it may have been stone-lined. Trough 2 cut the north-west end of Trough 1. It was oriented north-south, with its western side extending into the buffer zone. It was 1.7m long by 0.4m wide (where exposed) and 0.65m deep. The sides of the trough sloped steeply with a slight undercut at the northern and southern ends. A shallow circular depression sitting on possible scorched clay to the south of Trough 1 suggested the possible presence of a hearth measuring 1.3m diameter and 0.16m deep.

Spreads 2 and 3 relate to the redeposition of the fulacht fiadh material in later disturbance-related features. Spread 3 was redeposited in a hollow that appeared to relate to disturbance by animal burrowing while Spread 2 probably resulted from redeposition in a hollow caused by uprooting a tree.

Troughs 1 and 2 and the possible hearth most likely represent the core of the fulacht fiadh. No evidence of a mound above these features survived but is likely to have been degraded from agricultural activity and with the passing of time. The recorded location of the fulacht fiadh remains preserved in situ within a 20m buffer zone immediately to the west.