1998:285 - BALLYVELLY, Tralee, Kerry

Licensed monitoring and subsequent excavation were undertaken in relation to the development of a large housing estate at Ballyvelly in the western urban district of Tralee, Co. Kerry. The development lies close to two recorded monuments: SMR 28:112, a hillfort, and SMR 28:117, classified as an enclosure. The site lies on the lower southern slopes of a small but prominent hill that has unimpeded views of Tralee Bay and the Slieve Mish Mountains that form the spine of the Dingle Peninsula.

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping revealed eight areas of archaeological potential, all subsequently excavated, and also produced a complete saddle quern. Work on this site took place in stages during 1998, and post-excavation analysis, dates and other specialist reports are at a preliminary stage. Initial results seem to indicate the presence of a large prehistoric flat cemetery and possibly also unique crematoria.

Area 1, 12m x 5m, at the extreme southern limits of the development site, consisted of three linear features, five cremation pits and a number of stake-holes. The saddle quern and a tiny fragment of a copper/bronze object were found here during initial soil-stripping. Of the linear cut features, the northernmost extended for 4.1m x 0.95m and was 0.23m deep. However, its full length was not determined, as it continued under the eastern baulk. It contained one major fill that consisted of much burnt shattered stone, dark black material, charcoal and cremated bone. It appears that this was primarily dump fill, as no in situ burning had taken place. The two other, slightly smaller linear features were of the same general size, orientation, fill and fill inclusions. The three features were cut parallel to one another and virtually contiguous.

Six small oval pits containing varying quantities of cremated human bone and charcoal were found immediately to the south of the linear features. All of the bone recovered consisted of very small crushed fragments; this was consistent throughout the entire excavation. The largest pit measured 0.54m x 0.49m x 0.13m, and the smallest 0.16m x 0.2m x 0.18m. Other, similar pits were also excavated, but no bone was recovered. No other artefacts were recovered from the pits. A number of stake-holes were also excavated, two of which produced stone mauls.

Area 2, 12m north-south x 16m, lay c. 70m upslope from Area 1, to the north-east. Topsoil-stripping had revealed three linear burnt cut features (possibly crematoria), two linear features, five cremation pits and a number of stake-holes, two of which also contained cremated human bone. The linear cut features averaged 2.85m long, 0.62m wide and 0.23m deep. Two lay in the south-west of Area 2, abutted one another and were aligned north-south. The other lay in the north-east of Area 2 and was aligned north-east/south-west. The two furnaces/ crematoria in the south-west displayed the same general characteristics: shape; intensity of burning; red/brown, sandy loam fill with occasional inclusions of charcoal and burnt bone. The third furnace/ crematorium, in the north-east, was more regular in shape and wood-lined, and its fill produced large quantities of charcoal and in situ burnt wood. Fragments of cremated bone were also recovered.Up to ten possible cremations were recovered from Area 2. Six of these were in small pits, and four others were components of larger linear cut features. The pits were concentrated in the north of Area 2, measured on average 0.4m in diameter and 0.17m in depth and were generally circular in plan. The fills of the pits consisted of a dark brown, sandy loam with high charcoal and pebble content. The linear cut features measured on average 2.25m east-west x 0.96m and were 0.14m deep. They displayed a metalled base of carefully set (and often burnt/ shattered) stones.

A number of other random pits, postholes and stake-holes were also investigated.

Areas 3–8 reflect smaller discrete archaeological find spots in proximity to Area 2 revealed in the course of monitoring. In general they consist of dark burnt spreads, pits, postholes and stake-holes. Six further cremations were recorded in these areas.

43 Ard Carraig, Tralee, Co. Kerry