2005:661 - BALLAHACOMMANE, Kerry

Monitoring of Phase 10 and 11 of the groundworks at Ballahacommane, Killarney, Co. Kerry, was carried out from 18 May to 1 June and again from 17 to 26 November 2005. The site consists of c. 100 acres of land, much of which is covered by a blanket bog. The development involves the phased clearance and excavation of a sand and gravel quarry. The quarry is situated in the lowlands between the hill of Ballahacommane to the north and the River Flesk to the south. The site is bounded to the east by a tributary of the River Flesk. The Macgillycuddy and Derrynasaggart mountain ranges dominate the site to the south. The stone cairns on the summits of the Paps of Anu are clearly visible from the site.

Although no standing archaeological features have been found on the site in the previous phases of monitoring, by Ruth Elliott, Damian Finn, Niall Gregory and the writer (Excavations 2000, No. 408; Excavations 2001, No. 540; Excavations 2002, No. 765; Excavations 2003, No. 770; Excavations 2004, No. 717), a number of Bronze Age sites are known in the immediate vicinity of the quarry, increasing the likelihood that some archaeological features may remain.

Phase 10 of the works involved the clearance of topsoil over an area of c. 2.3 acres of land along the northern boundary of the quarry to facilitate its expansion for sand and gravel extraction.

Phase 11 of the works involved the stripping of c. 2.75 acres of blanket bog along the eastern boundary of the site. A number of field drains and large pits were uncovered during the monitoring. The pits and drains were simple stone-filled rectangular cuts, which drained water from east to west into a large boundary ditch. The pits were the result of testing carried out to determine the land’s suitability as a quarry.

Nothing of archaeological significance was discovered as a result of this phase of the works.

Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3