County: Kerry Site name: Dirtane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KE014–060, KE014–06001 Licence number: 08E0823
Author: Niamh O’Callaghan, Barrow Archaeological Services, Sandy Lane, Barrow, Ardfert, Co. Kerry.
Site type: Ringfort and souterrain site
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 475577m, N 628650m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.395229, -9.828233
Test-trenches were excavated as part of an impact assessment, to be submitted as further information, for a proposed single-house development at Dirtane, Ballyheigue. The site was located within the zone of archaeological potential around two monuments, a ringfort (KE014–060) and souterrain (KE014–06001).
The ringfort was illustrated on the first-edition 6-inch OS map, with ‘caves’ annotated in the interior; however, it was not included in the 1916 edition. A house and garage are located in the area today. As part of the assessment the maps and site drawings were overlaid and it appeared that the southern arc of the ringfort was located on the proposed development site. There were no potential archaeological features visible above ground in this area or the remainder of the site.
Three test-trenches, 10m apart, were excavated across the proposed development site. Trench 1 was located 5m south of the northern boundary as the remains of the ringfort were thought to be in this general region. All trenches were orientated east–west, 1m wide, from 40m to 45m long and 0.3–0.4m deep. Four field drains were visible in the subsoil. They were filled with stone and redeposited subsoil. No archaeological features were recorded.
