County: Kerry Site name: CLASHEDMOND 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004289
Author: Liam McKinstry
Site type: Middle Bronze Age pits and post-holes; Late Bronze Age enclosure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 486855m, N 611736m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.245704, -9.656916
Excavations at Clashedmond 1 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 four phases of activity. Phase 1 consisted of scattered pits and post-holes, while Phase 2 consisted of a large circular enclosure. Phases 3 and 4 were characterised by a number of linear features present across the site, including a townland boundary ditch and structural elements.
Phase 1
Phase 1 was characterised by a number of pits and post-holes that were located within the interior of the enclosure but were found to be earlier than the enclosure itself. Four pits (SUERC-37273; 1257–999 cal. BC, 2σ) were located within the northern part and another four (SUERC-37272; 1417–1217 cal. BC, 2σ) in the central area. Three post-holes were located close to the south-eastern entrance to the enclosure.
Phase 2
Phase 2 was characterised by the enclosure ditches. The interior dimensions of the excavated part of the enclosure ditch were c. 33.5m north-west/south-east and c. 26m north-east/south-west. If it is assumed that the enclosure was circular, then an estimate for the overall outer diameter would be 39m. The enclosure’s entrance was located in the south-eastern part of its circuit and consisted of an undug section within the ditch, leaving an earthen causeway approximately 5m wide. A possible surface of rough stone ran though the entranceway.
The northern part of the enclosure ditch was 2–3m wide and had a maximum depth of 2.2m. In profile this section of the ditch had a steep-sided ‘V’ shape with a rounded base. The ditch contained 23 fills. The lower fills consisted of light to dark grey-brown sandy clays with frequent inclusions of small to large stones and gravel. There was also occasional charcoal flecking, a sample of which has been dated (SUERC-37271; 919–805 cal. BC, 2σ).
The southern part of the enclosure ditch was 1.6–2m wide, with a maximum depth of 0.74m. This section of the ditch had a much broader and shallower profile, with concave sides and a very uneven base. The ditch’s terminus to the north-east with the entrance was a gradual rise which was partially truncated by a linear feature. The ditch in this area contained three fills.
Phase 3
The townland boundary ditch ran in a north–south direction along the westernmost edge of the site. It was 1.3m wide with a maximum depth of 0.35m; it contained three fills.
Structural elements (structure and surface) and associated features (deposits, gateway and linear feature) were located in the southern part of the site. Overlying the natural subsoil was the modern bank and a deliberately deposited layer. This layer appeared to be some form of foundation over which a cobbled surface was constructed. The cobbled surface measured 2.6m east–west by 1.9m and had a maximum thickness of 0.12m. A rubble layer composed of a mixture of small and medium-sized roughly shaped stones overlay the cobbled surface and lay in close proximity to a drystone wall. The layer measured 0.75m by 0.6m and was 0.2m thick. Running east–west parallel to the southern edge of the cobbled surface were the remains of a small drystone wall.
The bank was truncated along its width in an east–west direction by a gateway cut and also along its eastern edge by the linear feature. The first of these cuts seems to have been part of an access through the bank and over the cobbled surface. The second cut may have been the remains of the townland boundary ditch.
All of these features may relate to a section of a field entranceway which is visible on the OS 1st-edition Sheet 38 (1846) and are therefore contemporary with the townland boundary.
Phase 4
The final phase within the site was characterised by a number of linear features. To the immediate north of the enclosure there were four linear drains or field boundaries. Three furrows and a field boundary were located within the centre of the enclosure. In the southern part of the site, a field drain truncated the terminus of the southern enclosure ditch.
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