2011:290 - BALLINORIG WEST 3, Kerry

Excavations at Ballinorig West 3 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 Phase 1 features identified included two pits, a spread and three associated stake-holes, a cremated urn burial and an associated spread of cremated bone. Phase II involved a kiln.

Phase I
A cremation urn burial and associated spread of cremated bone were located in the northern half of the site. The cut was subcircular in plan, aligned north–south; it measured 0.4m by 0.3m and appeared to be no more than 0.07m in depth. The cremation deposit within the urn consisted of a spread of compact mid-brown clayey silt with much cremated bone and charcoal. The cremated bone and charcoal were concentrated to the south of the feature, where the ceramic vessel was identified. A slight overspill or combination of fill and topsoil interface was present on the northern side, masking the true dimensions of the cut prior to the block-lifting of the feature by a conservator. This feature was heavily truncated and only 0.05m (max.) of the rim of the vessel survived. The urn contained 519g of cremated bone and represented the remains of two individuals (an adult and a sub-adult). Radiocarbon dates determined the burial to be Early Bronze Age (1928–1752 cal. BC (2σ); SUERC-37086).
The spread of cremated bone (1.6g) was located 0.35m west of the urn cremation. Subcircular in plan, it consisted of loosely compact mid-brown clayey silt with inclusions of small angular stones and cremated bone. It measured 0.46m in length by 0.37m in width by 0.04m in depth and possibly represents drag or overspill material from the associated cremated urn burial.
Two pits and a spread on the site may also be related to this Bronze Age phase of activity.

Phase II
A kiln was situated in the northernmost part of the site and was figure-of-eight-shaped in plan. It was aligned east–west and had a broad U-shaped profile. It measured 3.4m in length by 1.9m in width by 0.6m in depth. There was a high degree of oxidisation along the base, especially the northern edge, and it is also from this area that a quantity of burnt bone was recovered. A total of six fills were identified. The basal fill was radiocarbon-dated to the early medieval period (cal. AD 665–866 (2σ); SUERC-37224). A polished/rubbing-stone was also recovered from this fill.

Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork