County: Kerry Site name: TRALEE: 1–3 Upper Castle Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0232
Author: Martin Byrne
Site type: Excavation -miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 483775m, N 614353m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.268580, -9.702890
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken at the site of a hotel development on 13–14 August 1996 in compliance with a condition of planning. The site incorporates the area of the former Benner’s Hotel and an adjacent derelict site. The levels in an area measuring c. 1162m2 were reduced to the natural under archaeological supervision. It was found that the natural sloped from 0.63m to 1.43m (north-south) below the present street level. No features of archaeological interest were recovered during the course of this work, although two fragments of window glass, of probable late medieval date, and one sherd of possibly medieval pottery were recovered from the basal layer of silt..
During the course of the demolition works, an area measuring c. 700m2 was reduced to the ‘natural’ without archaeological supervision.
A well was partially uncovered to the south of the site during the erection of a safety fence. However, it was decided not to investigate this feature as it lay outside the site boundary and was not endangered by any of the construction or service works.
The groundworks associated with the provision of services to the development will be monitored during the spring of 1997.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
