2011:324 - KNOCKAWADDRA MIDDLE 2, Kerry

Excavations were undertaken at Knockawaddra Middle 2 on behalf of Kerry County Council as part of Stage (iii) of the Archaeological Services Contract prior to the commencement of construction of the N22 Tralee Bypass/Tralee to Bealagrellagh, which extends from Lissatanvally townland to Flemby townland. A total area of 1,520m² was exposed, revealing two phases of activity. The Phase I features seem to have been related to a prehistoric settlement, while Phase II was associated with post-medieval agricultural activities.
The Phase I earliest activity was represented by three circular structures and their associated features. The northernmost structure, Structure 1, measured approximately 5.2m (north-north-east/south-south-west) by 5m. It was defined by nine post-holes, mostly circular and subcircular in plan, 0.22–0.5m in diameter and 0.14–0.27m deep. Their fills consisted of mainly dark silty clays with occasional charcoal and stone inclusions. The spacing between the post-holes varied from 1m to 1.8m. There was no clear entrance into the structure.
A number of features were identified within the interior of the structure, including a large central hearth. This was irregular in plan, measuring 0.9m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.02m in depth. Three clusters of stake-holes (53 in total) surrounded the hearth and two post-holes were identified to the south-west of the hearth. Several post- and stake-holes identified outside Structure 1 may represent additional roof or wall supports, and the remains of a possible drip gully were identified on the north-eastern side of Structure 1.
Structure 2, approximately 30m to the south-west of Structure 1, comprised a total of eight post-holes indicating a suboval building approximately 4.8m long (north-west/south-east) by 4m wide. The post-holes were 1.2–2m apart and there was no clear evidence of an entrance. The remains of a possible drip gully were identified on the south-eastern side of Structure 2, as well as number of other linear features and pits.
A large, suboval pit to the south-west of Structure 2 displayed clear evidence of in situ burning throughout the base and sides of the cut. A large number of stake-holes (29 in total) were identified truncating the base of this feature; no clear patterns or alignments could be determined, however, and their function remains uncertain. Two fragments of corroded metal, which may be part of a bronze dagger, were recovered from the fill of a stake-hole within the pit. Approximately 1.32m from the north-western end of the pit was a large curvilinear feature that seemed to be directly related to the pit activity, possibly functioning as a windbreak.
Structure 3, approximately 10m to the south-west of the pit, was less well defined than the other two structures and the intense activity focused on this area made it difficult to determine which features were associated. Seven of the post-holes seemed to form a visible pattern that could be suggested to define Structure 3, giving it an approximate diameter of 4.6m. The gaps between these features varied from 0.28m to 1.68m but on average were 0.81m. A hearth was identified towards the centre of Structure 3 and displayed evidence of intense in situ burning. Four post-holes seemed to form a rectangular pattern within the confines of Structure 3 and possibly functioned as roof supports.
A large number of post- and stake-holes were identified in association with Structure 3 and it is presumed that these features represented internal and external supports and divisions, although no clear patterns or alignments could be determined. A number of large pits of indeterminate function were also situated in close proximity to the defining features of Structure 3.
The Phase II activity was represented by a series of post-medieval plough furrows and field drains.

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