2011:331 - Manor East 1, Kerry

Excavations were undertaken at Manor East 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.
The archaeological features identified at the site were divided into seven main areas or foci of activity, Areas 1–7. The overall nature of the features could be categorised as evidence of settlement, with four structures and a large ditch identified, most probably prehistoric in date. As well as the settlement evidence, three cremation burials were identified within the site.
Post-excavation work in relation to this site is at an early stage and the interpretations given below are preliminary.
The only archaeological features identified within Area 1 were a pit and a stake-hole, the fills of which provided no datable material. The only other features identified were evidence of modern agricultural activity.
In the northern part of Area 2 a subrectangular structure (measuring c. 3m from north to south by c. 2m) was identified, and it seems probable that a number of the nearby pits were rubbish or storage pits associated with it. The post-holes which made up this temporary structure measured 0.27–0.7m in diameter and 0.12–0.2m in depth. A small subrectangular structure to the immediate east of Structure 1 and a cluster of stake-holes to the south-east may also have been associated with it.
In the northern part of Area 3 there were the two cremation burial pits. One cremation was block-lifted, as it was contained within a prehistoric urn. A sample from this cremation was radiocarbon-dated to the Middle Bronze Age (1436–1296 cal. BC (2); SUERC-37088). There seemed to have been at least three separate cremation deposits within the second cremation pit, which was also dated to the Middle Bronze Age (1450–1309 cal. BC (2); SUERC-37087). The final deposit seemed to have been deliberately separated from the bottom two by a cap of silty clay. Stake-holes located close to this cremation pit may have been burial-markers.
Structure 2, in the south-western part of Area 3, was radiocarbon-dated to the Early Neolithic period (1436–1296 cal. BC (2); SUERC-37321). It would appear to have been some form of temporary structure or hut and consisted of two stake-holes and seven post-holes. It measured c. 3.25m from north-west to south-east by c. 1.48m. The Neolithic date is further supported by the recovery of two sherds of probable Neolithic pottery from one of the stake-holes. It seems probable that a nearby pit and hearth and their associated features may have been associated with Structure 2, possibly having a domestic or small-scale industrial function.
A large north-east/south-west-running ditch which traversed parts of Areas 3 and 4 may have been a large boundary ditch. There were no finds recovered from the ditch and no direct stratigraphic relationship with nearby features within Area 4.
Structure 3, which was located close to the south-western terminus of the ditch, seemed to represent a subcircular or oval structure or hut. It consisted of 23 stake-holes, one post-hole and four pits. The recovery of an in situ polished stone axe from one of the stake-holes would suggest that it was prehistoric, most likely Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age in date.
To the south of Structure 3 were two concentrations of features. The first included a cremation pit and a series of ten intercutting pits (most of which appeared to be domestic refuse or storage pits). The second concentration of features, located nearby, was a cluster of large intercutting pits and a hearth.
A number of lines of stake-holes were identified to the immediate north-west of the large ditch. The longest line contained 34 stake-holes, ran in a north-north-west/south-south-east direction and was c. 7.5m long. Approximately 2.5m to the east was another line of fifteen stake-holes, 4.9m long and running in a north–south direction. A small line of two stake-holes and one post-hole crossed the northern end of the second stake-hole line, and was aligned north-west/south-east for c. 0.9m.
Structure 3 and the stake-hole lines and their associated features seemed to respect the line of the ditch, which may suggest that the ditch was prehistoric in date. The purpose of the lines of stake-holes is not exactly clear, but it is possible that they functioned as individual windbreaks.
The final structure, in the southern part of Area 5, was not only larger than the other three structures identified at Manor East 1, with a north-west/south-east axis and measuring 5.5m by 2.5m, but also seemed to have been constructed in a more permanent way with large post-holes, some of which contained substantial packing material. There was a possible entrance on the north-eastern side.
Area 6 was located to the north-east of Area 2. A small cluster of five post-holes and a single pit were identified within this area. The post-holes appear to have formed a rectangle, while the remaining post-holes and the pit were placed to the north of this rectangular arrangement.
Area 7, to the immediate south of Area 5, contained a number of pits and post-holes. The post-holes varied in size from 0.17m to 0.47m in diameter and from 0.06m to 0.33m in depth.
Some modern agricultural features were present, particularly in Area 1, and a number of the isolated pits throughout the site proved to be of natural origin, but again it seems likely that many of the other isolated features may also have been prehistoric.

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