2024:889 - Summerhill, Meath

Archaeological excavation was undertaken at Summerhill, Co. Meath, between 2 and 17 September 2024. The excavation followed on from the discovery of a burnt spread during testing at the site in December 2023 (2023:528). The excavation resulted in the discovery of a fulacht fiadh, defined by a spread of burnt material (dims 6m x 5m; Depth 0.2m), irregular trough (2.05m x 1.4m; D 0.36-0.5m), sub-circular pit (diam. 1.2m; D 0.4m), oval pit (1.25m x 1m; D 0.25m) and two slot trenches (average dims length 2.85m; Wth 0.5m; D 0.3m). The burnt spread was concentrated to the north and east of the trough and pits, and generally consisted of loosely compacted black silt with frequent inclusions of small and medium-sized burnt stones. This deposit had an average thickness of 0.2m, and was very similar to the deposits forming the main fills of the trough and pits. The trough was much degraded with evidence of slump and collapse resulting in irregular edges and sides. The basal fill of mixed silt and sand contained frequent partly-burnt stones and may be contemporary with the final use of the trough. The two pits formed very regular cuts with almost vertical sides and flat bases. The fills within the pits were similar to the burnt spread material. The fills within the slot trenches were very different, consisting of compact silty clays with only very occasional burnt stone inclusions. There were frequent areas of slump along the sides of the trenches, and there was evidence of possible repair in the form of small packing stones along a section of the upper edge of one of the cuts.