2011:301 - CAHER, Kerry

Killarney Rugby Football Club applied for planning permission in respect of building three playing pitches and clubhouse facilities with all associated site services at Caher, Aghadoe. A request for further information was issued, which required the developers to employ an archaeologist to undertake an Archaeological Impact Assessment, including testing, because the proposed development site abutted the marked zone of archaeological potential for a ringfort, KE066-028, and also because of the large scale of the proposed works.
In addition to the ringfort, there are many fulachta fiadh in the fields neighbouring the site to the west, north and east. These are marked on the RMP but not illustrated on the 1st-edition OS map. Also, a local landowner told of a polished stone axe found in the townland of Caher and now in the care of the National Museum.
In late July 2011 nineteen test trenches were opened across the site of the proposed development by mechanical excavator with a grading bucket. The trenches were laid out at intervals of approximately 12m and were excavated to either the upper layers of any potential archaeological features or natural subsoil.
Five potential archaeological features were recorded, three in Field 1 to the north and two in Field 2, the central field. The locations of all the features were plotted using GPS by the site engineers.
A small deposit was recorded 32m from the western end of Trench 1 (Field 1). It was subcircular in plan and measured 0.4m by 0.3m. It consisted of ‘fulacht fiadh’-type material, small heat-shattered stones with charcoal pieces and flecks.
A pit, possibly the remains of a hearth, was located 35m from the western end of Trench 3 (Field 1). It was subcircular in plan and measured 0.5m by 0.4m. A section excavated through the feature revealed three distinct layers: an upper layer of brown sand, a charcoal-rich layer and a basal layer of burnt subsoil. The excavated section had a depth of 0.18m.
The remains of a small fulacht fiadh were recorded at the eastern end of Trench 6 (Field 1). It measured 4.2m by 5.6m and was up to 0.2m higher than the surrounding subsoil.
An irregular-shaped pit, 0.35m by 0.65m, was revealed 60m from the western end of Trench 5 (Field 2). A cross-section revealed that the feature had very irregular sides and base. The fill consisted of brown silty clay with moderate inclusions of charcoal flecks and occasional small stones.
A shallow pit with flecks of cremated bone was recorded 25m from the eastern end of Trench 6 (Field 2). The trench was extended 2m to the south and 3m to the north to investigate further. The feature, which was fully excavated, measured 0.45m by 0.9m by 0.08m and comprised a subcircular layer of charcoal overlying scorched subsoil.
All features were recorded; with the exception of the shallow pit in Trench 6 (Field 2), they were covered and should be fully excavated as part of the next phase of works.

Barrow Archaeological Services, Sandy Lane, Barrow, Ardfert, Tralee, Co. Kerry