2024:448 - Rathkieran, Kerry

Licenced archaeological testing was undertaken in March 2024 with regard to a planning application to construct a small glamping site at Ráth Ciaráin – Rathkieran, in St Finan’s Bay, Co. Kerry.

A series of five linear test excavation trenches, extending for c.275m, were opened across the limits of the proposed development site using a back-acting 8-tonne track machine with a flat grading bucket.  Topsoil removal revealed good quality dark material with flecks of sand evident throughout. The topsoil had an average depth of 0.3m and overlay pale sterile pebbly sandstone material (grey to green in colour). Frequent sandstone slabs and larger rounded stones and boulders and bedrock were recorded in all of the five cuttings.

Nothing of an archaeological nature was noted in any of the test trenches.