2007:684 - Caherleaheen, Kerry

As a component part of an archaeological impact assessment, 41 test-trenches were opened across a proposed development site in the townland of Caherleaheen, located c. 1.4km south of Tralee.
A possible fulacht fiadh was identified during the initial walkover of the site as a large mound bisected by a field boundary. Four test-trenches (Area 1, T39–42), 1.5m in width, were excavated by hand across the location of the possible fulacht fiadh. The monument was recorded directly beneath the sod (a depth of 0.15m) for a length of 11m east–west by 24.5m, in T39 and T40. It was typically manifest as a large spread of burnt-mound material comprising 80–90% burnt stone within a black silty clay. Large pieces of charcoal were visible within the deposit and a sample was taken for dating purposes. A soil sample was also taken for analysis. The mound was not sectioned and did not extend beyond the western field boundary and was not recorded in T41 and T42.
A total of 38 test-trenches were excavated across the remainder of the site by a track machine using a 2m flat grading bucket. Four further areas of archaeology were recorded.
Area 2 was recorded 20m to the north-west of Area 1 and was manifest as a spread of burnt-mound material. Measuring 3m east–west and with an exposed length of 2m north–south, the deposit consisted of 80–90% burnt stones within a brown/black silty clay.
Area 3 is located 15m to the north-east of Area 1. This area comprises a spread of burnt material, identical to that recorded in Area 1, extending for 11m north–south by 12m. Large pieces of charcoal were visible within the spread and a sample was retrieved for dating purposes. A soil sample was also taken for further analysis.
Area 4 is situated 35m north-east of Area 1 and also comprises a spread of burnt-mound material that has been truncated by modern agricultural features, aligned north–south. The burnt-mound material was recorded for an exposed length of 5.3m north–south and a width of 6m, although it is visible intermittently in the southern section face of the trench for a further 2m. It is further recorded in the northern section face for 2m and 0.2m in depth. The full extent of the spread could not be determined on the northern side, as a high earthen bank defines the southern extent of the stream that bisects the PDS.
Area 5, located 73m to the south-east of Area 1, comprised a hearth (Feature 1) and a single pit (Feature 2). The hearth was subcircular in plan and measured 1m east–west by 1.2m. A mottled red/yellowish-brown silty clay with moderate inclusion of charcoal flecks was visible on the northern, north-eastern and southern side of the hearth with in situ burning evident in the remainder of the hearth. A soil sample was taken for further analysis and dating purposes. Two heat-fractured flat hearthstones are located at the centre of the hearth. Feature 2 was located 0.7m north-east of Feature 1 and comprised a circular pit filled with a sterile soft brown silty sand with occasional small pebbles. The pit was half-sectioned and two pieces of quartz were retrieved from the fill. The cut has a gradual break of slope top, smooth gradually sloping sides with a slightly rounded base. This pit measures 0.4m in diameter and 0.15m in depth. Nothing of a datable nature was recorded within the fill of the pit.
The artefact-bearing potential of the spoil from the five areas of archaeology was visually examined and physically assessed by metal detector C scope CS7, under licence 07R0054. All areas were archaeologically negative.