Fulacht fia in Baysrath (knocktopher By.)

On marginal land between bog to the NE and rising pasture to the SW. Excavated in 2007 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme (Licence no. E3628). A fulacht fia consisting of a mound (c. 15m N-S; 15m E-W; D 0.15-0.53m) of heat-fractured stones and charcoal-rich clay. There were two well-defined troughs. One (1.64m E-W; 1.1m N-S; D 0.25m) had six stake-holes at the four corners (two at SW and NW) possibly representing a lining around the inside edge. Only part of the SW edge of the second trough survived. Four irregular pits were all filled with heat-fractured stone and charcoal-rich clays. A sample of hazel charcoal from the mound yielded a radiocarbon date of 1125-938 cal BC (UBA-15542). A sample from a stake-hole was dated to 1025-903 cal BC (UBA-10986). The mound and associated features extended beyond the limits of the excavation. A large ceremonial and habitation site (KK031-075---- to KK031-088----) lies 200m to the SW. (Walsh 2010, 234-5, no. 883; Walsh 2012) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 11 November 2013