2011:303 - CAHERLEHEEN 1, Kerry

Excavations were undertaken at Caherleheen 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.
Excavation revealed evidence of a single phase of activity. The features identified included a small spread of burnt material in the eastern corner of the site. This comprised yellowish-brown sandy clay, which contained frequent inclusions of charcoal and heat-affected stones; it measured 1.4m in length, 1.04m in width and 0.06m in depth.
Approximately 2.6m to the east of the aforementioned spread was a second burnt spread. This had maximum dimensions of 2.77m by 2.62m by 0.14m deep and consisted of dark brownish-black sandy clay containing frequent inclusions of pebbles, stone and charcoal.
The terminus of a small ditch, which measured 1.35m in width and 0.5m in depth, was situated 0.5m to the south-west of the second spread. It extended beyond the limits of excavation to the south and had a recorded length of 1.54m within the excavation area. The fill was loosely compacted, blackish-grey clayey silt and contained inclusions of medium-sized stones.
A small cluster of thirteen stake-holes was identified at the north-north-eastern end of the ditch. These did not seem to form any obvious patterns that would indicate the presence of a structure. They varied in size from 0.03m to 0.17m across and from 0.03m to 0.17m in depth.
A single irregularly shaped pit was located approximately 1m to the west-north-west of the ditch. This feature measured 0.6m long by 0.4m wide by 0.18m deep. It was filled by mid-brown sandy silt with occasional charcoal flecks.

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