2019:427 - BRACKAHARAGH, Kerry

Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations, Stage (i)c Test Excavations in Wetland and Stage (i)g Topographical Survey Services were carried out on behalf of Kerry County Council on lands acquired for construction of the N70 Brackaharagh Road Improvement Scheme, in the townland of Brackaharagh, in Co. Kerry.

Topographical survey
A Type A topographical survey was undertaken at a single earth-fast boulder, ARCH01. The survey included i) desk-study ii) a comprehensive written and photographic record of the size, form, fabric and structure of ARCH01 and iii) reporting and preparation of a relevant archive. The record included the dimensions of each element of the site, including height/depth, width at base and width at top. A topographical ground plan, profiles and a 3D photogrammetry model were undertaken of ARCH01. The boulder is sub-oval in plan and measures 2.5m in length by 2m in width by 0.8m in height. On its surface is a sub-rectangular man-made hollow measuring 0.67m in length by 0.25m in width by 0.08m in depth. The boulder has been interpreted as a newly identified possible bullaun stone.

Test excavations
The total area available for test excavations was approximately 1.783ha. The scheme was divided by field into ten areas (Fields 1–10) for recording purposes. Field 8 and Field 9 (Stage (i)c areas) were not suitable for testing owing to dense vegetation and flooding. The total Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations area excavated was 259 linear metres, representing a 12% sample of the greenfield area available for test excavations. One test pit 4m long was excavated in the Stage (i)c Test Excavations in Wetland area. It has subsequently been recommended in the testing report for these works that in lieu of the results of the Stage (i)c Test Excavations in Wetland, that a Stage (i)l Palaeo-environmental Coring Assessment be carried out there in the future as part of the N70 Brackaharagh Road Improvement Scheme Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract. It is hoped that the Stage (i)l assessment will provide valuable environmental data for the environs of the ringfort/cashel KE0106-121 in that area.

During the test trenching, a single site of archaeological potential was found: Brackaharagh 1. Brackaharagh 1 consisted of a burnt spread containing heat-shattered sandstone and charcoal. Testing revealed a stratigraphic build-up of the spread consisting of three layers (C.3, C.4 and C.5). The spread measured 4.2m by 3.2m by 0.2m in depth. No other associated features were revealed in testing in association with the burnt spread. A chert flake and a possible quartz flake were recovered from layer C.5 of the burnt spread.
No objects of archaeological interest were identified during metal detecting.

Construction works on site will result in the total removal of the site identified. Therefore, the site as defined by the Stage (i) testing is recommended for Stage (ii) pre-excavation preparatory work and full excavation and preservation by record as part of the Stage (iii) works.