2007:676 - BALLINGOWA/RATASS, Kerry

Two phases of pre-development testing as a component part of an archaeological impact assessment (AIA) were undertaken at a proposed development site (PDS) of 15.2ha in the townlands of Ballingowan and Ratass, Tralee, Co. Kerry. A previous non-invasive AIA on the PDS, and more specifically on a bowl-shaped depression identified as a possible ceremonial hengiform enclosure (Connolly 1999, 66; Connolly and Condit 1998), related the results of extensive specialist assessments, including visual site inspection, archaeological, geological, typological and geophysical analysis, which concluded that the bowl depression is a natural feature of geological origin with very limited indicators, principally from the geophysical testing, of possibly related human activity. The reasonable and rational conclusion of the AIA was to undertake test-trenching across the bowl feature as well as targeted excavation of the geophysical anomalies.

Phase 1 involved the excavation by hand of two L-shaped connecting trenches across the depression and ten targeted test-pits across geophysical anomalies or potential archaeological features identified during the geophysical survey. All work was undertaken by hand including de-sodding and topsoil removal. The test excavation trenches and the potential archaeological features identified in the geophysical survey were set out with a Thales Z Max GPS instrument to national grid co-ordinates with an accuracy level of 650mm (2 inches).

A mid-greyish-brown silty clay topsoil varied in depth across Trench A, ranging from 0.45m depth at its northern end to 0.2m towards its southern end. Moderate amounts of modern pottery sherds, occasional modern metal fragments and glass were retrieved from the topsoil which was also spread and raked to a depth of 0.3m and visually inspected. The subsoil in Trench A was a firm light-yellow silty clay with frequent small gravel-like pebble inclusions.

Trench B was identical to Trench A in terms of topsoil and subsoil except for its western end, where the subsoil was a compact mottled grey/brown/orange silty clay, which is consistent with the occasional waterlogging of the depression. A light-brown clayey silt was recorded beneath the subsoil towards the eastern end of the trench. This was excavated to a depth of 0.3–0.4m to determine if the subsoil was redeposited but was found to be completely sterile in nature and a natural occurrence.

The two connecting trenches A and B excavated by hand across the bowl-shaped depression revealed no archaeological deposits, stratigraphy or artefacts.

The target testing of ten geophysical anomalies identified as possible archaeological features in the geophysical report also proved entirely negative. These anomalies were probably caused by modern finds of pottery and metal, as well as natural geological deposits within Field 1. All the anomalies were examined on the ground by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics and an explanatory geophysical report prepared on the results.

Phase 2 involved the testing across the remainder of the PDS; a total of 72 trenches were excavated, representing 7604 linear metres and 10% of the 15.2ha site. Six areas of archaeological activity (Areas 1–6) were revealed across the PDS.

Area 1 comprised a single, discrete pit of unknown purpose.

Area 2 consisted of a number of post- and stake-holes, indicative of a round house with a portico entrance feature. An internal hearth was also revealed, along with a beaten clay floor surface. Exterior pits were also recorded. Apart from a rubbing stone found in one of the half-sectioned post-holes, no artefacts were retrieved from the test excavations at the site.

Area 3 comprised seventeen features in total; six post-holes, six stake-holes and five pits. Heat-shattered stones were noted at the surface of two of the pits.

Area 4 consisted of a total of twelve features, including four post-holes, six pits and two cremation pits. No discernible pattern could be determined for the post-holes. However, several of the features contained heat-shattered stones, suggesting a site engaged in hot-stone technology, probably prehistoric in date. The cremation pit was circular in plan, measured 0.41m in diameter and was 0.10m in depth. It contained two fills. The primary fill was a reddish-brown silty clay with occasional flecks of cremated bone, occasional flecks and small chunks of charcoal and occasional small pieces of burnt clay. The secondary fill comprised the cremated human bone in a mid-brown silty clay matrix. Occasional large diagnostic pieces of cremated bone were noted during excavation, including long bones, denticular and skull fragments. This cremation pit essentially represents the western limits of the site, while the eastern extent is marked by the second cremation pit, which was unexcavated.

Area 5 comprised a total of nineteen features, including seven pits, six stake-holes, three post-holes and two linear features. Two pits and a single post-hole were half-sectioned, while a sondage was excavated through both linear features. No discernible pattern could be established for the post-/stake-holes and no finds were retrieved that may shed light on the date and function of the site. Furthermore, the nature and extent of the linear features could not be resolved.

Area 6 consisted of a total of seven features, comprising four pits, a post-hole, a trough and a spread. With the exception of the post-hole, which comprised dark-brown clayey silt with occasional charcoal flecks, the surface of the remainder of the features contained moderate to frequent heat-shattered stones in charcoal-enriched clayey silt with moderate to frequent charcoal chunks. The trough was sub-oval in plan and measured 3.1m (north–south) by 2.5m. In the south-east corner of the trough there was an exposed area of burnt subsoil that may indicate the presence of a hearth there. The possible spread was situated in the north of the site and was not fully exposed due to the proximity of the raised bank of the river. The spread, which was irregular in plan, had exposed dimensions of 5m by 3m. No datable artefacts were retrieved from the site. However, in the absence of absolute dating at this point it is not unreasonable to think that this site may represent a denuded Bronze Age fulacht fiadh.

Post-excavation work is currently ongoing.

References
Connolly, M. 1999 Discovering the Neolithic in County Kerry: a passage tomb at Ballycarty. Bray.
Connolly, M. and Condit, T. 1998 Ritual enclosures in the Lee Valley, Co. Kerry. Archaeology Ireland 46, 8–12.

3 Lios Na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry