Fulacht fia in Muckridge

A large spread (23m E-W; 16m N-S) of heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil was discovered during strip-trenching in advance of the construction of the N25 Youghal Bypass and was excavated in 2001. Excavation revealed two large troughs and five smaller pits which could have functioned as troughs or as storage pits. A large number of stake-holes was also found, mainly in association with the two larger troughs. Trough 1 (3.32m E-W; 2.08m N-S; D 1.02m) was rectangular and timbers found in its backfill may have been the remains of a lining. A curving line of stake-holes around it was interpreted as a windbreak. Trough 2 (2.86m E-W; 2.7m N-S; D 0.7m) was bowl-shaped. A carbon sample from the fill of one of the smaller pits produced a radiocarbon date of cal. BC 2620-2280. (Noonan 2003c, 53) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009