2011:325 - KNOCKAWADDRA WEST 1, Kerry

Excavations were undertaken at Knockawaddra West 1 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 1,136m² was exposed, revealing two phases of activity. The Phase I features seem to have been related to a prehistoric burnt mound, while Phase II was associated with post-medieval agricultural activities.
In Phase I, the earliest activity found at the site was represented by a large burnt mound and its associated features. Overall, the mound was subrectangular in plan, measuring approximately 21.2m (north-north-east/south-southwest) by 16.9m and 0.8m deep. It comprised sixteen separate deposits of typical burnt mound material—heat-affected stone and charcoal. Two stake-holes were found beneath the north-western portion of the mound.
A number of features directly to the north of the burnt mound are believed to have been related to the Phase I activities. A suboval pit, 1.62m long, 0.69m wide and 0.32m deep, was filled by two dark silty clay deposits containing occasional inclusions of charcoal. A subrectangular pit, measuring 1.02m by 0.8m by 0.31m deep, was filled by two mid- to dark[mid- to dark what? brown?] silty clay deposits containing occasional charcoal, medium-sized stones and frequent pebbles. Two stake-holes were also identified to the north-east of the pits.
No trough was identified at Knockawaddra West 1, but it is probable that such a feature remains beyond the limits of the road-take to the west.
The second phase of activity at the site is post-medieval in date and is represented by a number of agricultural drains, the majority of which truncated the burnt mound.

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