2024:446 - Creegooane, Kerry

Three phases of archaeological monitoring (Phases 4-6) were completed previously by Laurence Dunne Archaeology with regard to topsoil stripping for the Ardfert Quarry extension in Creegooane townland. Subsequently, four archaeological areas (Areas 1-4) were excavated between 2021 and 2023 (Dunne L. 2021, 2023a and 2023b).

Recent archaeological monitoring of the Phase 7 extension to Ardfert Quarry was undertaken in July 2024 under a further extension to licence 21E0714. Two areas of archaeological interest were discovered at the northernmost limits of the site (Area 5) and in the central part of the stripped plot (Area 6).

Excavation of the archaeological features discovered during Phase 7 took place in September 2024.

A total of twenty features viz:  six pits, six post- and eight stake-holes  were fully excavated and recorded within Area 5. Four coarse stone artefacts were recovered from Area 5 including a broken saddle quern, rubbing stone, sharpening stone and a burnishing/rubbing stone.

Thirteen features including a hearth, five pits  and seven stake-holes were recorded within Area 6.

Numbers of soil samples were recovered from the two areas. Post-excavation processing is currently on-going.

References:

Dunne, L., (2021), Archaeological Excavation Report, Creegooane, Ardfert, Co. Kerry, Licence No. 21E0714 (Phase 4). Unpublished report Laurence Dunne Archaeology.

Dunne, L., (2023a), Archaeological Excavation Report, Creegooane, Ardfert, Co. Kerry, Licence No. 21E0714 (Phase 5). Unpublished report Laurence Dunne Archaeology.

Dunne, L., (2023b), Archaeological Excavation Report, Creegooane, Ardfert, Co. Kerry, Licence No. 21E0714 (Phase 6). Unpublished report Laurence Dunne Archaeology.