2026:159 - Gortamullin, Kerry

Archaeological testing of the site of a proposed residential development at a greenfield site in Gortamullin, Kenmare, County Kerry was undertaken in mid-May 2026 in order to comply with a Request For Information from Kerry County Council in relation to the proposed development.

The testing programme comprised the excavation of 16 archaeological test trenches, measuring 1.8m in width and totalling 945m in length, across the footprint of proposed development site. This resulted in approximately 10% of the area available for testing within the red-line boundary being investigated (there were a number of exclusion zones in the vicinity of overhead power lines).

While the vast majority of the site proved to be devoid of archaeological activity, the testing programme revealed the presence of a levelled burnt mound/fulacht fia within Trench 6 in the northernmost portion of the site. The spread of pyrolithic material associated with this feature measured at least 14m east-west by 9m and 0.4m to 0.5m deep; it likely continued for a number of additional metres to the north.

Furthermore, a ditch feature uncovered within Trench 9 in the south-western corner of the site did not correspond to any field boundaries depicted on the early edition OS maps and, as such, cannot be discounted as relating only to agricultural activity.

The testing programme also revealed that a significant amount of infill material had been deposited across the southernmost portion of the site to the immediate north of the proposed site entrance off the N70 national secondary route. This infilling appeared to extend c. 25m into the site and due to the Health and Safety and environmental concerns associated with the excessive depth of overburden, the testing programme was curtailed by 55m in this area.