County: Kerry Site name: COOMACULLEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0184
Author: Michael Connolly, Kerry County Museum
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 510483m, N 580115m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.965898, -9.302697
This site was recorded as part of a site assessment, completed at the request of the National Monuments Service, prior to commencement of road realignment works on the N22 between Poulgorm Bridge and Derryreagh. Following the identification of the site as a possible fulacht fiadh, the National Monuments Service requested further investigation. This work was carried out on 19 and 21 May 1997.
The site is situated in the western corner of a small field which slopes gently down from a steep hill at the south toward the Clydagh River, 60m to the north. The land in the area is very marshy and floods during periods of heavy rain.
The site was bounded on its western and southern sides by a low field wall, which gave it a D-shape. It measured 12m east-west, 9.5m north-south and remained to a height of 0.47m above the surrounding ground on its northern side. The site had the appearance of a natural terrace on the hill but was in an area of potential for fulacht fiadh-type sites.
The excavation consisted of a single trench, 1m wide, across the site in a north-south direction, and confirmed that the site was a natural feature, a natural terrace formed from peat, with a maximum depth of 0.77m, which rested on a creamy, white, sterile boulder clay.
The site exhibits no evidence of archaeological strata. As such, the road realignment will not affect any known archaeology in this area.
Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry
