2004:0787 - RATASS, Tralee, Kerry

Pre-development testing was undertaken at a development concerning the construction of a large housing development and associated services in the townland of Ratass to the east of Tralee town. This townland is rich in archaeological monuments, with a church and graveyard, ecclesiastical remains, an ogham stone, armorial stone and cross slab all recorded from the area. The proposed development was located in a large rectangular field of grassland with housing development bordering the site in the west and south-west. Nine trenches were mechanically excavated. The stratigraphy revealed consisted of sod and topsoil overlying a light-brown, sticky marl in the north and north-east while elsewhere an orange, stony natural clay was encountered below the subsoil. No artefacts or features of archaeological significance were uncovered in the course of testing.