Fulacht fia in Tuar Sáilín

Traces of a fulacht fia are located in the field ditch above the farm road located outside and on the northern tip of the proposed forest. The fulacht fia is located beneath 0.85m of blanket peat. A clear layer of burnt stone consisting of linear banded fulacht fia deposits is present under the blanket peat (up to 0.75m deep). The upper burnt stone deposit consists of finer stones and charcoal stained peat, the stones are c. 0.03-0.01m in diameter. This upper deposit seals a lower layer of burnt local sandstone (measuring c. 0.05-0.09m in diameter) mixed with a gravelly peaty clay (40%). The fulacht fia deposits are located on the old ground surface which consists of a fine brown putty like clay. The mound is up to 12m in diameter and was identified in the section of the drain face (orientated northwest / southeast). The deposits are deep (0.75m) over a 5m stretch and are only c. 0.20m deep in the remainder of the section face, suggesting that the drain cut through, or is close to, a trough where the deposits tend to be thinner. The above description is derived from an archaeological assessment report for a proposed new forest at Toorsaleen, Co. Kerry. The report was compiled by Edmond O'Donovan & Associates in April 2014. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 April 2014