Fulacht fia in Drombeg

The excavation site was located within the lower lying portion of a poor-quality pasture field in the south-western portion of the Tullamore solar farm site. The fulacht fia was discovered during archaeological testing (Excavation Licence No. 23E0046) of the site of the Tullamore Solar Farm development in March 2023. The site was subject to full archaeological excavation (Excavation Licence 23E0397) in June 2023. The burnt mound was composed of an oblong deposit of heat-affected stone fragments contained within a matrix of dark greyish brown to black clayey silt. It directly underlay the topsoil and had a maximum extent of 10.5m (N-S) by 9.2m (E-W). The depth of the burnt mound deposit was greatest in its central portion with a maximum depth of 0.42m. The depth of the deposit gradually decreased towards its edges. The east to west axis of the burnt mound deposit was not contiguous as the basal portions of a likely modern or early modern linear feature truncated the western portion of the burnt mound in a roughly north to south direction. It is likely that the burnt mound would have been horseshoe-shaped had it not been truncated by the linear feature. The main body of heat-affected stone and charcoal enriched clayey silt was found to have been deposited upon an introduced layer formed by a mix of compact, light yellowish brown sandy clay and medium to large sized stones. This layer measured 8.5m (N-S), 7.4m (E-W) and varied in thickness between 0.1m and 0.5m but averaged circa 0.3m. The introduced layer was deposited directly upon a slightly elevated area of natural subsoil. The introduction of this deposit resulted in the provision of an elevated and dryer working platform for those carrying out their pyrolithic activities. This area was up to 1m higher in elevation that the lower lying, and readily flooded, areas of the cutting to the south.  A trough was located on the western side of the burnt mound and was partially overlain by the main burnt mound material on its eastern side. Elsewhere, the upper fills of the trough were overlain (and truncated) by the fills of the later linear feature, which extended through this area in a roughly north to south direction. The trough itself was of irregular shape in plan but trended towards sub-oval. It had maximum dimensions of 1.88m (E-W) by 1.66m (N-S) and had a maximum depth of 0.7m (as measured from the highest point of its cut into introduced layer on the north-eastern side of the trough. The trough filled naurally with ground water during periods of wet weather. When in use, the trough appeared to have contained a wattle lining, as numerous predominantly small to ephemeral stakeholes were identified on the sides and base of the trough cut, while the fills of the trough contained frequent small wood fragment and twig-like inclusions. A smaller, irregular cut feature underlay the southernmost portion of the main spread of burnt mound material, also truncating the southernmost extent of the introduced layer.  The site has returned radiocarbon dates ranging from the Chalcolithic period (2455-2201 cal BC), through the Early Bronze Age (2280-2035 cal BC) and on to the Middle Bronze Age (1615-1460 cal BC), demonstrating repeated use of the site over an extended period. Analysis of environmental samples indicates some local woodland clearance from the Chalcolithic period into the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with a decrease in oak levels and increase in alder and hazel values. It is likely that the site was located close to a boundary of dry and wetland areas.    Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David Murphy.