1986:30 - 'FERRITERS COVE', Ballyoughteragh South, Kerry, Kerry

In continuing this excavation in 1986, it was hoped:
1) To establish the extent of each of the western edge campsites (see Excavations '85).
2) To look for traces of structures postholes, pits, etc.
3) To examine the more easterly silty deposits for traces of occupation.The excavation was divided into four areas.

North-east
The 1986 season showed that the silt, which had probably washed down from higher upslope, covered in places an extensive scatter of stone artefacts. Much of this material was concentrated in an area 3m x 3m where a scatter of 200+ small flakes lay around several large slabs of rock. An in-situ manufacturing area, several postholes and what would appear to be linear gullies were located. An excavated posthole was 15cm deep and 10cm in diameter.

North- west
Work in this sector in the 1984 season indicated that a second burnt area existed on what might have been a made-up surface resting on relatively sterile palaeosoil. Another posthole, of a similar size to those referred to above, cut through this horizon. The made-up horizon may have been laid in part to level up a slight change in the old ground surface. Examination of a small section of the rich deposits adjacent to these hearths revealed a complete section of a Tope spine and very extensive traces of burning.

South-east
A hearth associated with mussel shells was located on the very eastern edge of the site and a small group of stakeholes, usually only 5cm deep, was found. A number of hollows of, as yet, uncertain origin were also uncovered. This area, while lacking so far in specific concentrations of industrial activity, did produce a larger number of finished artefacts than elsewhere on the site. These included a backed knife, pick fragments, fragments of a polished stone axe and a number of cores.

South- west
Limited excavation in a midden area here produced numerous shells, burnt stones and a number of fish bones. At the eastern edge a number of pits were exposed and excavation of one of these showed that it mostly contained redeposited gravel. This pit would seem to be part of a group where several cut through other examples as happened at Mt Sandel. They remain as enigmatic as the Mt Sandel small pits (Woodman 1985, Excavations at Mount Sandel 1973-77). They may be post pits but none contained a post pipe and no patterns can be discerned. The core of this midden is still relatively untouched and may cover another range of postholes and pits.

Raw material and artefacts
Few retouched tools were found this season and what was found is similar to those already known - Bann flakes, picks, a polished stone axe and elongated pebbles, i.e. artefacts typical of the later Mesolithic in Ireland.

With the help of Mr M. O'Sullivan (Geology Department, UCC) the range of raw material was re-examined. It was noted that the percentage of siltstone against rhyolite was much higher than had been originally thought and that nearly all the raw materials (siltstone, welded tuff, flint and chert) could have been found in the immediate vicinity of the site. The source of the rhyolite is still uncertain but many of the artefacts were made from beach-rolled nodules.

Environmental background
A) Evidence for a transgression: With the collaboration of Dr R. Devoy of the Geography Department, UCC, a core 3.4m deep was obtained from a bog in the vicinity of the site. Although there were occasional traces of plants such as armeria which indicated nearby salt marsh, no unequivocal evidence of a marine transgression has turned up.

B) Evidence for vegetation change: Pollen analysis, carried out by Ms Helena Feighan, indicates that there is a noticeable increase in tree pollen below 2.5m. The tree pollen is dominated by alder (Alnus) and hazel (Corylus) and Birch (Betula) are the other major components. This was very obviously not a densely forested area but a region which contained some scrub.The occurrence of cereal pollen at 3m would suggest that the peat has formed relatively rapidly since the arrival of farming in this area, and that the total diagram represents a period less than 5,000 years in length. Only C14 dates will allow us to establish the real age of the peat.

Shell midden 
During excavation of the main site at Ferriters Cove, Co. Kerry, it was noted that a nearby hearth and shell midden were eroding away. Therefore, in spite of its proximity to our main excavation, it was decided to examine this location in the summers of 1985 and 1986.

Excavation here took the form of clearing off a depth of 2m+ of sand from a roughly triangular area 6m x 4m. Excavation revealed that, as at other sites in this area, fires had been lit directly on the subsoil (probably for a limited duration). Associated with the fire were several small heaps of limpets and periwinkles, but unlike some other sites in the area, no animal or fish bones were recovered. The discrete piles of shells, usually of a single species, have been noted at other Late Mesolithic sites in Ferriters Cove. Associated with the shells were numerous large greenstone blades. A series of slate plaques with pecked lines were also found. Perhaps the most important object was a large triangular-sectioned pick which is identical in detail of manufacture to those found in the north-east of Ireland.