Burnt mound in Ardnaglass Lower

In the NW corner of a pasture field, located in damp, level rush-grown ground, bordered to E by a low natural rise. This burnt mound, probably a levelled fulacht fia, is not visible at ground surface level, but is exposed in section in two intersecting field field drains. A dense layer (L 15m; D 0.23-0.3m) of burnt stones in black, charcoal-rich soil is exposed in section in both the E and W sides of a roughly N−S field drain (Wth 1.2m at top, 0.6m base; D 0.4-0.5m), which cuts through the wet NW corner of the field. The burnt layer is directly overlain by topsoil/sod (D 0.15-0.2m), and overlies a peat layer. The drain intersects at its N end with an E−W field drain on the N boundary of the field. The burnt stone layer is also visible in the E−W drain, extending to E for c. 5m from the point of intersection with the N−S drain. Attached image: SL005-200----_01.JPG Burnt stone visible in drain section, viewed from SE. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 October 2020