County: Kerry Site name: MOUNTHAWK/BALLYNAHOULART, Tralee
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0594
Author: Emer Dennehy, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Burnt pit
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 482425m, N 615803m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.281318, -9.723161
Monitoring of topsoil clearance at the site of Mounthawk/Ballynahoulart, Tralee, identified thirteen areas of archaeological potential, which were subsequently excavated. The majority of the areas were single isolated features; multiple associated archaeological features were identified in just four of the thirteen areas. Most of the features were isolated pits with charcoal-enriched fills and evidence for in situ burning; a large number of the pits also contained charred seeds and hazelnut shells. One of these pits was also rock-cut. The excavation of Areas X–XIII identified single isolated pits of similar form and dimensions, with homogeneous fills, one of which produced post-medieval pottery. It can therefore be interpreted that this group of pits were all of post-medieval date and of no archaeological significance. The two areas of special note are Areas IV and V.
In Area IV a large linear pit measuring 2.61m x 1.01m x 0.45m was excavated. There is evidence of in situ burning in the base of the pit; after each use the debris from the fire was deliberately stacked within the pit. This pit was then deliberately sealed with a deep, silty clay deposit composed predominantly of medium-sized pieces of fractured limestone bedrock.
In Area V five features were identified, consisting of a combination of post-holes and pits, all of which contained charcoal-enriched soil but were not burnt in situ. The most interesting feature is C.28, which originally functioned as a pit, vertically inserted into the base of which were two stakes. The fill of this pit contained three pieces of pottery and a lozenge-shaped arrowhead. The pit was later reused as a post-hole.
None of the associated pits and posts excavated seem to form an identifiable structure. Given the proximity of this site to cremation pits excavated by Laurence Dunne in Mounthawk (Excavations 1997, 87–8, 96E0390), in addition to the recovery of quantities of cremated bone, pottery and an arrowhead, it is reasonable to interpret that the site served a ritual rather than domestic purpose.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
