Fulacht fia in Earlsrath

On a steep SW-facing slope in a natural hollow close to a stream. Excavated in 2007 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme (Licence no. E3391, E3645). A deposit of pink sand (7.2m E-W; 4.8m N-S; T 0.18m) above which was black silt with charcoal and heat-shattered angular stone filling the natural hollow (15m N-S; 10.5m E-W; T 0.4m). A subrectangular trough (3.3m E-W; 2.6m N-S; D 0.52m) with steep sides and a flat base was excavated at SE. It may originally have been stone-lined; sections of a single course of sandstone blocks survived at its basal levels to S and W. A post-hole was located just outside the trough to the SE. An earth-cut pit lay perpendicular to the trough at W and contained a hearth. A sample of alder from this was radiocarbon dated to 918-815 cal BC (UBA-15541). Three other fulachta fia (KK040-091----, KK040-092---- and KK040-094----) were excavated in the same area. (Wren 2010a; 2010b, 243-4, 916) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 27 November 2013