2010:391 - N22 Tralee Bypass/Tralee to Bealagrellagh, Kerry

This bulletin summarises the results of test excavations, a townland boundary survey and an architectural/built heritage survey carried out in advance of the construction of the N22 Tralee bypass/Tralee–Bealagrellagh, which extends from Lissatanvally townland to Flemby townland in County Kerry. Ministerial directions number A56 was issued for these works under the directorship of Tony Bartlett of Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, with the assistance of director James Hession. The zones of potential of five RMP sites were tested by the writer and by James Hession under individual registration numbers (see Nos 246, 244, 245 and 239 above, E4151–E4155).
Townland boundary survey
Twenty-three townland boundaries intersect the route of the proposed Tralee bypass. Five of these were subject to a Type B townland boundary survey, while the remaining eighteen boundaries were subject to a Type A survey. The stream, which constitutes TB11, a small third-order stream which formed part of a field boundary, was also the subject of an underwater survey (UW–03). The River Lee, a third-order stream which formed part of a field boundary, constitutes TB13, which was also the subject of an underwater survey (UW–04). A first-order stream which formed part of a field boundary constitutes TR13 and was also subject to an underwater survey (UW–09). No further mitigation was undertaken following the completion of the report describing the survey of townland boundaries.
Architectural/built heritage survey
The architectural/built heritage survey was carried out at four areas that contained sites of possible architectural/built heritage interest, which will be directly impacted on by the proposed bypass, three of which were identified during the EIS and the forth was identified during standard test-trenching. The field survey positively identified and recorded four upstanding structures, three of which (the forge, water pump bay and demesne wall) no longer perform their original function and have been altered. The fourth, a culvert, remains in use as an important infrastructural feature and is in good structural condition. No further mitigation was undertaken following the completion of the report describing the survey of structures of architectural interest.
Standard test excavations
For ease of recording, the route was divided into five areas (Area 1–5) from north to south. During standard Stage (i) test-trenching a total of 41 areas of archaeological potential were identified. The majority of the sites appear to be prehistoric in date and point to evidence for a relict landscape of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. Probable early medieval and post-medieval activity was also identified along the scheme.
Burnt-mound sites
Sixteen sites with burnt mounds or possible burnt-mound-related features have been identified.
Area 1: Evidence for burnt-mound sites was identified at Lismore 2, Knockawaddra Middle 1 and Knockawaddra West 1. All three sites were situated close to the edge of streams. At Knockawaddra Middle 1 there was a cluster of three mounds, which is a common phenomenon in areas that were suitable for their construction.
Area 2: One burnt-mound site was identified in Ballinorig West 1. This was located in a marshy field with a lot of ground-water. Pits located in Ballinorig West 2 and Ballinorig South 1 were found to contain heat-shattered stone in a charcoal-stained matrix, which could indicate burnt-mound activity in the vicinity.
Area 4: A series of burnt mounds were identified in the townland of Camp (Camp 1 and 2). The presence of this cluster of burnt-mound activity would indicate the area was particularly suitable for this activity.
Area 5: Eight areas with possible burnt-mound-related activity were identified in Area 5 (Camp 4, Caherleheen (Ratass) 1 and 2, Poulawaddra 1 and 3, Dromavally 2, Ballindooganig 1, and Gortbrack East 3). The topography in Area 5 was undulating, with notable dips in the topography that are prone to waterlogging, and this is what possibly attracted the burnt-mound activity.
Settlement sites
A number of sites along the scheme represent past settlement in the form of post-holes, stake-holes, hearths, slot-trenches (structural remains) and enclosures.
Prehistoric
Area 1: Evidence of possible prehistoric settlement activity identified at Ballynabrennagh Lower 1 and Knockawaddra Middle 2 included a circular slot-trench and associated post-holes and three distinct post-hole structures and related features respectively.
Area 5: A small cluster of pits, post- and stake-holes at Gortbrack East 2 indicate settlement activity at this location, possibly of prehistoric date.
Early historic
Area 2: A bivallate enclosure and associated features identified in Ballinorig West 2 is typical of an early medieval farmstead. Further possible structural remains were identified in Ballinorig West 3 and 4 which are in the vicinity of a ringfort.
Area 5: An enclosure at Clashedmond 1, close to a ringfort, is also thought to represent an early medieval enclosure. An enclosure at Ballindooganig 2 is of uncertain date but may also represent an enclosed settlement; alternatively its shallow nature may indicate it functioned as a ring-ditch associated with ritual activity.
Post-medieval
Area 1: Structural remains related to Lismore House were identified in Lismore 1. These structures are depicted in the first-edition OS maps.
Area 5: Post-medieval structural remains were also identified in Clashedmond 1 and Bealagrellagh 1.
Multi-period or uncertain date
Area 2: Ballinorig West 4 appeared to contain both prehistoric and medieval remains and at least some of the features on the site may be related to settlement.
Area 3: A dense spread of features was identified in Ballingowan 1–4 that included hearths, post- and stake-holes, indicating the presence of a probable settlement of more than one date.
Area 4: Manor East 1 and 2 were found to contain large numbers of features at least some of which are likely to be structural in nature. Small areas of possible settlement of uncertain date were also identified in Manor East 3c and 4b.
Miscellaneous
The presence of pits and possible post-holes at a number of sites is possibly suggestive of settlement or domestic-type activities.
Area 2: A total of six pits of uncertain function and date were identified in Knockawaddra West 2. In Dromthacker thirteen pits and a possible post-hole suggest some kind of domestic activity.
Burial sites
There was evidence for potential funerary or ritual activity at three of the sites identified (Ballinorig West 3 and 4 and Manor East 1). All evidence was in the form of cremation burials, with associated ring-ditches at the two Ballinorig West sites. Preliminary evaluation of these sites suggests a general Bronze Age date for this activity.
Ballinorig West 3 and 4 are clustered in close proximity and could form part of a single funerary landscape or dispersed cemetery. Only one possible cremation was identified in Manor East 1 and no features appeared to be in direct association.
Limestone reefs in the Tralee area are known to have associations with cremation burial and such reefs were present on the east side of Ballinorig West and along the north-west side of Manor East 1.
Ring-ditches
Potential ring-ditches have been identified at Ballinorig West 3 and 4.
A circular ditch at Ballindooganig 2 has been interpreted as a possible enclosure and discussed above as a settlement feature, but the possibility that it may be a ring-ditch cannot be ruled out.
Industrial activity
A number of sites identified produced evidence of industrial activity, namely metalworking and possibly cereal processing.
Area 1: A kiln was identified close to the post-medieval remains at Lismore 1 and the kiln itself may also be post-medieval.
Area 2: A possible charcoal-production pit was identified at Dromthacker 2. These features are commonly dated to the early medieval period and would have been used to produce charcoal for use in the metalworking industry.
A number of features on Ballinorig West 4 were found to be related to metalworking including seven possible furnaces containing slag and clay. At least some of the many other features identified on the site such as the hearths may also be related to this activity. A possible keyhole-shaped kiln was also identified on this site, which may represent cereal-drying activity.
Area 3: The presence of features containing slag on Ballingowan 4 indicated that metalworking was ongoing. In addition, two possible cereal-drying kilns were identified here pointing to cereal processing taking place.
Area 5: Two possible kilns were identified in Dromavally 1. They are similar to the kiln identified in Lismore 1 and may be associated with lime or cereal processing.
Wetland activity
Two brushwood trackways were identified at Manor East 4b and 7. These trackways have been preserved in peat and alluvial deposits within the flood-plain of the River Lee. Stray finds of worked wood were also found in Manor East (3a, 3b, 5, 6) and Camp (3), although it was not found to be directly associated with an archaeological site.
Miscellaneous
The date and function of a small number of the identified sites cannot be determined; these are pit and linear features at Ballinorig South 1a and 1b, an isolated pit at Dromavally 1b and an isolated pit at Gortbrack East 1.
The report describing the results from Stage (1) testing recommended full excavation of the identified sites along the scheme. The preservation in situ of the site at Bealagrellagh 1 was also recommended.