What is recorded here

Eight metres of fire-cracked sandstone and charcoal-stained clay still lie buried in Rakeevan, waiting for someone brave enough to lift the topsoil and ask what heat lived there. The stones cracked from sudden flame, not slow rot, suggesting people built a place where water, stone and fire met repeatedly. Modern pottery and glass now scatter the ancient heat, reminding us that even forgotten kitchens or baths must share the ground with living streets.

It is described as follows in the report on the excavation (licence no. 03E0725; Clarke 2003, 3): ‘This feature was exposed below the topsoil and extended beyond the northeastern limit of excavation. The feature covered an area measuring 8m by 4.6m and varied in thickness from 0.10m to 0.50m. This spread consisted of fire-cracked sandstone, charcoal-stained clay and very occasional tiny flecks of charcoal (insufficient amount recovered for a charcoal sample). This spread was disturbed by modern activity as was evident by the inclusions of topsoil and modern pottery and tiny sherds of glass throughout the spread. This feature was removed onto the natural white/grey marl. No other features were exposed within this site.’ (Clarke 2003, 3). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 28 November 2016

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