Fulacht fia in Drumcarbit

Testing was carried out by Angela Wallace of Connacht Archaeological Services, under licence No. 08E0226 in advance of two adjacent developments with combined green areas at Drumcarbit, Malin. The southern development area measured 75m north–south by 200m. Test-trenches 1–4 were located in this portion of the development. The northern area for development measured c. 225m north–south by 150m at the southern end and 115m at the northern end. A total of seven test-trenches were excavated using a machine with a grading bucket. Trenches 1 and 2 measured 150m in length east–west. Trench 3 was 70m in length north–south and Trench 4 was 40m in length east–west. Trenches 5–7 were located within the northern area and measured c. 100m in length north–south. No archaeological finds or features were uncovered in Trenches 2–7. A portion of a burnt spread or fulacht fiadh was uncovered within a marshy environment at the west end of Trench 1. The burnt spread measured c. 6m across at its northern end and c. 2–3m in width. This spread was only partially exposed; it appeared to extend further southwards. Redesign or full excavation was recommended to the developer (Bennett 2011, 84). Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision : 21 November 2011