It is a fulacht fia, a type of prehistoric cooking site found in great numbers across Ireland, typically dating from the Bronze Age. The name, loosely translated as "deer roast" or "cooking pit of the wild", refers to a method of heating water by dropping fire-cracked stones into a trough, which would then be used to boil meat or, some researchers have argued, for bathing or even brewing. The broken, heat-shattered stones, discarded after use and piled up over generations, are what form the characteristic mound.

This particular example measures 36 metres north to south, with a wide opening of 26 metres facing west. Just inside that opening sits a curved depression measuring roughly 12 by 18 metres, which likely marks the location of the original trough or working area. The horseshoe or U-shape is the classic form for these monuments, with the open end allowing easy access to the central hollow. Fulachtaí fia are often found near water sources, as a reliable supply was essential to their function, and the low-lying fields around Finuge would have suited that requirement well. The site was recorded as part of the North Kerry Archaeological Survey, published in 1995.