2011:330 - LISMORE 2, Kerry

Excavations at Lismore 2 were undertaken 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 two phases of activity. The features identified included a burnt mound from Phase I, while Phase II was represented by post-medieval agricultural features.
In the south-south-east of the excavation area was a small spread of burnt material, which was truncated by a Phase II plough furrow. An oval pit approximately 0.5m to the south-east of the small spread measured 1.25m in length, 0.94m in width and 0.4m in depth. It was filled by grey clayey silt, which had a moderate compaction. Approximately 3m to the south-south-west of the oval pit was a sub-oval pit, 1.24m long by 0.7m wide by 0.14m deep. Its fill comprised moderately compacted, mid-grey silty clay, which contained very frequent heat-affected stones and moderate amounts of charcoal.
There was a large subrectangular pit approximately 0.1m to the south-east of the sub-oval pit. It measured 3.35m by 2.45m by 0.9m in depth and contained six fills consisting of silty clays with varying amounts of heat-shattered stone and charcoal. One radiocarbon date was obtained from the lower levels (SUERC- 37294; 900–797 cal. BC, 2σ).
A rectangular trough approximately 0.35m to the south-east of the large subrectangular pit measured 2.05m (north-west/south-east) by 1.47m by 0.7m deep. A possible silty clay lining was identified along the northern and south-eastern sides of the trough. Six stake-holes truncated its base and sides. The earliest fill was a mid-greyish black silty clay, which contained frequent heat-affected stones and occasional charcoal inclusions (SUERC-37298, 971-809 cal. BC, 2σ). This was situated beneath black, charcoal-rich silty clay.
An area of intensely oxidised silty clay at the south-eastern end of the trough measured 1.58m in length and 0.72m in width; it was truncated by six stake-holes and is likely to represent a hearth area.
A further twelve stake-holes and three post-holes were identified to the north-east and south-west of the trough, but no visible pattern or alignment could be discerned that would indicate their function. Overlying the stake-holes, post-holes and trough was the main burnt mound deposit. Directly to the west of the trough were two small distinct spreads of burnt material.
Approximately 1m to the south-west of the spreads was an isolated post-hole. This measured 0.25m by 0.24m by 0.24m deep and was filled by loosely compacted, mid-greyish-brown silty clay, which contained small to medium-sized stones.
The second phase of activity at the site was post-medieval in date and related to agricultural practices such as ploughing and land drainage.

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