County: Kerry Site name: DROMORE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KE048–041 Licence number: 01E0812 ext.
Author: Laurence Dunne, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 493603m, N 603325m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.171481, -9.555489
Eleven trenches were excavated across the proposed development site at Dromore, Farranfore, Co. Kerry, by a track machine utilising a wide flat grading bucket.
Trenches 1–4 ran downslope in a general north–south direction at the eastern limits of the site. The southern or upslope end of the trenches comprised a thin cover of topsoil, 0.2m maximum, over bright yellow/grey boulder clay. The remaining extent of the trenches comprised a heavy cover of marsh reed over bog. The fibrous peat, including frequent tree roots and branches, extended to a maximum depth of 0.85m with an average of 0.35m. The peat overlay natural sterile grey clay/mud.
Trenches 5–11 were oriented in a general east–west direction at the western end of the site. The ground in this area was poor marginal land but without the peat. The topsoil was again thin, 0.1–0.2m, and overlay a bright orange/yellow sterile, heavily oxidised, natural material. In several trenches, active rooting relating to cleared willow, blackthorn and gorse was encountered. Trenches 8–11 were also focused on the potential curvilinear feature identified in an impact assessment undertaken by Jacinta Kiely in 2001 (Excavations 2002, No. 792). However, the results were completely negative and further support the general conclusion from the 2001 testing that this feature is geological in nature.
Nothing of archaeological interest was recorded within the trenches.
3 Lios Na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry
