Summary: Fulacht Fiadh
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Fulacht fiadh are also known as “cooking pit of the deer”. These sites are common in Ireland, especially in the south west. They were often found in waterlogged areas.
Water was boiled in a stone or wooden lined trough by submerging hot stones in it. The water could be brought to the boil in about forty minutes. The addition of extra hot stones would have made it possible to keep meat simmering for a long period of time.
The used stones were then taken out and placed nearby in oval or kidney shaped mounds. Permanent structures were rarely found near to the fulacht fiadh and this makes people believe that they may have been associated with temporary hunting camps. Other theories are that they may have been for bathing or for sweat houses.
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