Fulacht fia in Glebe (killybegs Ed)

Excavation licence number 01E0243. It was proposed to develop land to the immediate south of Killybegs town, in the area of Rough Point. The area surrounding St Catherine's Church, St Catherine's Well and Cat Castle represents a zone of archaeological potential as depicted on the Urban Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. The zone continues southwards to incorporate an area of the proposed development. A walk-over of the site prior to testing did not discover any above-ground archaeological features. The exposed cliff face to the east of the site was also examined. Its exposed stratigraphy revealed no interruption in the stratified layers. Fifteen trenches were mechanically excavated in the course of pre-development testing. In addition, a small area of land was stripped of topsoil. The stratigraphy revealed in fourteen of the trenches excavated did not indicate any evidence of features/deposits of archaeological significance. The layers present generally consisted of topsoil overlying a natural marl or subsoil layer, with rock visible at a high level. Numerous stone-filled drains were uncovered in the course of testing and testify to the land's agricultural value in the past. The excavation of Trench 13 (in addition to an area south of the trench) revealed a burnt spread of stones and clay, which on excavation may indicate the presence of a burnt mound or fulacht fiadh. (Excavations Bulletin 2001) Martin Fitzpatrick, Arch. Consultancy Ltd, Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway. Excavation licence number 01E0895 A levelled fulacht fiadh was identified during testing of a proposed development site in Glebe townland, Killybegs Upper, Co. Donegal. The site was originally noted as a spread of burnt soil, shattered stone and charcoal, c. 20m in diameter. The main burnt deposit was a firm black soil containing heat-shattered stone and moderate amounts of charcoal, measuring 8m north-south by 6.6m and with a maximum depth of 0.2m at the centre of this area. The layer formed a low dome, higher at the centre and with a minimum depth of 0.05m at the edges. There was no indication of the mound prior to the removal of topsoil. In the centre of the area there was a compact black clay containing large stones and frequent amounts of charcoal. The large stones were not heat-shattered and measured on average 0.15m by 0.1m by 0.07m. This layer was deposited in an area measuring 1.6m north-south by 1m by 0.25m deep. Excavation showed that this layer filled a trough cut which was subrectangular/irregular in shape, measuring 1.6m by 1m by 0.25m deep. The cut had a gradual break of slope at the top, concave sides and an irregular base. There was some stone pressed into the base of the cut. No timbers were recovered from the trough area. (Excavations Bulletin 2001) Michael Connolly, Ægis Archaeology Ltd, 16 Avondale Court, Corbally, Limerick.