County: Kerry Site name: KILMANIHEEN WEST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0478
Author: Michael Connolly, Kerry County Museum
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 508370m, N 621651m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.338809, -9.344642
Test excavations were recommended by the National Monuments Service following the submission of an archaeological assessment of the proposed route of the N21 realignment, between Headley's Bridge and Feale Bridge, Co. Kerry.
The test excavations were carried out on the west-facing slope of a low hill c. 1km south of the River Feale. The hill rises from the floor of the Owveg River valley and affords great views in all directions. It overlooks the river valley to the west and south and the modern crossing of the River Feale to the north. The views into north Kerry and south Limerick are expansive.
The assessment noted at this point three separate bank-like terraces on the west-facing slope of the hill and traces of possible ditches inside the two uppermost terraces; the excavation was concerned with testing these features.
The excavation took place between 13 and 16 October. It was proposed initially to place two trenches across the bank-like terraces of the hill; however, given the poor results from the first two trenches, three further trenches were dug.
No archaeological features or strata were encountered; however, there is substantial evidence that the lands have been the subject of intensive drainage and improvement works over a long period. There is no known archaeological impediment to the proposed road at this point; however, given the level of disturbance noted in the test-trenches, there is a possibility that archaeological evidence of a now destroyed site may be encountered during the stripping of the route. Therefore, all ground disturbance relating to the construction of the road should be closely monitored.
Tralee, Co. Kerry
