2007:682 - Ballyoughtragh North, Kerry

Pre-development testing was carried out at a proposed housing estate development site at Ballyoughtragh North, Milltown, as a response to a request for further information from Kerry County Council following on from recommendations set out in a previous non-invasive archaeological impact assessment. The site comprised a single greenfield totalling 9.32 acres. Sixteen test-trenches were excavated using a mechanical track machine utilising a 2m-wide flat grading bucket. The total length of trenching was 1951m.
A single trench, Trench 3, contained archaeological features. Consequently an extension to the trench (Area 1) was opened up exposing several other archaeological features. Area 1 measured 10.5m by 11m. A complex of 35 features was revealed. The revealed archaeology comprised fifteen post-holes, twelve stake-holes, seven pits and a single hearth. Five features were investigated: two post-holes (C.46 and C.48), two stake-holes (C.47 and C.50) and a single pit (C.45).
The post-holes
C.48 was subcircular in plan with a maximum width of 0.29m and depth of 0.15m. It had a gradual break of slope top, almost vertical sides, a gradual break of slope base and a flat base. It contained two fills. The primary fill comprised moderately compact dark-blackish-brown, charcoal-enriched silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks. The secondary fill consisted of moderately compact mid-greyish-brown silty clay. It contained occasional charcoal flecks and burnt bone.
C.46 was subcircular in plan with a maximum width of 0.25m and depth of 0.34m. It had a sharp break of slope top, almost vertical sides, a gradual break of slope base and a rounded base. It contained a single fill, which comprised moderately compact dark blackish-brown, charcoal-enriched silty clay with moderate charcoal flecks. Abutting this post-hole to the south-east was a contemporaneous stake-hole, C.50.
The stake-holes
C.47 was circular in plan. It had a sharp break of slope top with almost vertical sides on to a pointed base. It measured 0.08m in diameter and 0.27m in depth and contained a single fill, which consisted of moderately compact dark-blackish-brown, charcoal-enriched silty clay.
C.50 was circular in plan. It had a sharp break of slope top with straight sides on to a pointed base. It measured 0.09m in diameter and 0.21m in depth and contained a single fill, which consisted of moderately compact dark-blackish-brown, charcoal-enriched silty clay.
The pit
C.45 was sub-oval in plan. It measured 0.75m (north-west/south-east) by 0.65m and was 0.38m in depth with a sharp break of slope top, concave sides, a gradual break of slope base and a flat base. The pit contained three fills. The primary fill comprised a moderately compact mid-brown silty clay with frequent small angular and sub-angular stones and occasional charcoal flecks. It had a maximum depth of 0.2m and a width of 0.65m in section. The secondary fill consisted of a thin lens of charcoal, which was found near the top of the cut and was noted in plan as surrounding the edge of the feature. It had a maximum depth of 0.09m and width of 0.05m in section. The tertiary fill comprised a burning event evidenced by an oxidised mid-reddish-orange silty clay. It was moderately compact and contained occasional charcoal flecks and staining near the top of the deposit.
Interpretation
Eight of the post-holes make up an almost perfect circle with a diameter of 6m. All of these post-holes have similar dimensions in plan and appear to be equidistant from one and other. This, coupled with a centrally placed hearth, appears to represent a possible prehistoric round house. Post-excavation analysis is ongoing and it is hoped that wet sieving of the soil samples taken will produce material suitable for radiocarbon dating.
No artefacts were encountered during testing of the overall site or from investigation of the exposed archaeological Area 1.
A metal detector C scope CS7 was used to examine the spoil from c. 30% of the trenches, under licence 07R164. The spoil was raked and it was examined visually as well as with the metal detector. No artefacts of significance were found.