What is recorded here

Fulacht fia in An Tseanchluain is a 5.1m stone boiling pit excavated in 1951, where a hollowed tree trunk once sat beside a horseshoe hearth. People likely heated water for cooking, cleaning or ritual, then dumped the spent stones into the large mound still visible today. The nearby huts suggest this was a working household place rather than a forgotten myth.

Excavated in 1951 by M.J O'Kelly (1954, 123-7; Ballyvourney II). Prior to excavation noted as low oval mound (L 24m; Wth 16m; H 0.65m) on dry ground, 46m from Sullane River. Excavation revealed a pit (which had contained a wooden trough), hearth, primary and secondary huts and mound of burnt stone. Pit: In NE quadrant of mound; cut into subsoil (L 5.1m; max. Wth 2.8m; D0.7m). Trough did not survive but outline was visible as band of fine grey clay and indicated 'dug-out' type (i.e. hollowed out tree trunk) (L 4.1m; Wth 1.4m). Hearth: At SE end of trough; horseshoe-shaped (L 2.7m; Wth 2m), defined by earthen ridge, opening towards trough; end of arms marked by upright slabs set in sockets. First fires lit directly on soil; subsequently three flagged floors laid down. Huts: Primary hut 6.5m SW of trough; oval depression (max. diam. 2.4m) defined by seven post holes. Subsequently covered by mound spill and replaced by larger circular hut (diam. 5m) defined by ten post holes. Mound of burnt material flattened and spread by ploughing. Calculations established that it contained 139 cubic metres of material. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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