Fulacht fia in Teadies Upper

In pasture, on a S-facing slope. A spread (15.2m E-W; 8m N-S; D 0.3m) of heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil was exposed during topsoil stripping in advance of the construction of the Ballincollig-Ballineen gas pipeline and was excavated in 2000. A spread of stones which was uncovered on the E side of the spread was interpreted as a dump of raw material for the water-heating process. A subrectangular/elliptical pit (2.54m E-W; 1.75m N-S; D 0.6m) was found towards the N edge of the spread. It had steep sides and a flat base and was predominantly filled with heat-shattered stones and charcoal-enriched soil. The base and sides of the pit were lined with combined layers of charcoal and a grey silt. The pit was interpreted as the trough of the fulacht fia, and was possibly lined with wicker or a wattle and clay mix. (Tobin 2001; 2002f, 52-3) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009