Fulacht fia in Cherrywood

Topsoil monitoring in 1998 exposed a 24m (N-S) by 9m fulacht fiadh on a west-facing slope. The mound of the fulacht fiadh had been levelled by later activity. Eight troughs were identified on the site, circular or subcircular and unlined. The diameters ranged from 1.2m to 2m, and they were 0.3-0.8m deep. Several appeared to have been cut into natural springs. Hearths were identified as a number of circular areas of burnt clay beside the troughs. A series of finds was recovered including undecorated coarseware (Lough Gur Class II) recovered from the lowest level. The pottery was mainly Lough Gur Class II-style undecorated coarseware with simple rims, a tulip-shaped profile and flat bases (Knockadoon variant). A single sherd of decorated (Beaker?) pottery was recovered at this level. The main deposit of burnt material contained a number of sherds of AOC comb-incised Beaker pottery, along with more of the Lough Gur Class II ware. Flint flakes, debitage and hammerstones were also recovered from this deposit. A number of flint artefacts were recovered from the disturbed area of the lane and the interface between F81 and the natural at the north of the site. These included three intact javelin heads (62mm, 78mm and 118mm long), a broken and unfinished one and a leaf-shaped arrowhead (45mm long). A side-scraper and a double-ended scraper/ hollow scraper were also recovered from this area. Butchered animal bone was recovered from the upper (midden and topsoil) levels of the site. In only one instance could bone (an ovicaprid tooth) be associated with the fulacht fiadh phase (O Neill 1999, 40-42). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Padraig Clancy. Revised upload on: 21 April 2018.