County: Kerry Site name: FLEMBY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0245
Author: Laurence Dunne and Emer Dennehy, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Fulachta fia
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 491283m, N 610134m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.232205, -9.591570
Test excavations were carried out at the site of Flemby, Tralee, to investigate the nature and extent of several potential archaeological features identified through field-walking and geophysical survey. This work was carried out on behalf of Kerry County Council as part of the N22 Road Improvement Scheme. Five areas of archaeological potential were identified through both the archaeological testing and the geophysical survey and were later excavated in full.
In Area I a single pit exhibiting evidence of intense burning was identified. It measured 0.75m by 0.76m x 0.1m. It contained two basic fills and would appear to be relatively modern in date.
In Area II a linear feature was identified and two sections were excavated. It is the remains of a post-medieval field drain.
Area III consisted of a mound of burnt material measuring 7m by 3.2m. Two thin spreads of burnt material were identified. A basal spread 0.06m deep, consisting of mottled brown/black, silty clay, was overlain by C.14, a deposit of mid-grey, silty clay composed of 40% fire-cracked sandstone. A subcircular cut was placed through C.14 and may indicate the reuse of mound material for heating trough water.
Area IV consisted of a subcircular trough surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped deposit of burnt mound material. The burnt material exhibited evidence of truncation by both plough furrows and land reclamation activities and survived to a maximum depth of just 0.07m. The burnt material consisted of thin layers of black/brown, silty clay composed of 70% fire-shattered sandstones.
The trough was located centrally within the arms of the burnt deposits. It measured 1.8m by 1.7m by 0.6m in depth. It had become filled by a compact, black/brown, silty clay. Four timbers were found in the western portion of the trough. One was in an upright position and appears to have functioned as a lining. It is possible that the remaining three timbers were also uprights lining the trough. Inserted vertically into the base of the trough was a stake, located directly opposite the wooden upright; this may imply that only the western side of the trough was lined.
Six stake-holes were identified at the upper north-east edge of the trough. They were inserted into a layer of natural redeposited through the excavation of the trough.
Area V consisted of a thin spread of burnt mound material measuring 2.3m by 3.9m by 0.12m. It was later cut centrally by the insertion of a post-medieval clay water pipe.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
