2011:315 - DROMTHACKER 1, Kerry

Excavations at Dromthacker 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 a single phase of activity. The features identified included an isolated trough, as well as a possibly associated pit and hearth.
The oval hearth was identified in the southern part of the site and measured 0.84m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.11m in depth. This feature was lined with a deposit of pale yellow, firmly compacted clay, which contained patches of oxidised material, as well as heat-affected stones. This was overlain by loosely compacted, blackish-brown loamy silt, containing frequent charcoal flecks and occasional small stones.
The pit was approximately 8m to the north-north-west of the hearth. It was oval in plan, 1.25m long by 0.83m wide by 0.18m deep. Its fill comprised blackish-brown silty clay. This was loosely to moderately compacted, containing many charcoal inclusions and heat-affected stones.
A possible trough in the north-west corner of the site was subrectangular in plan, 1.6m in length, 0.85m in width and 0.3m in depth. Its basal fill consisted of black, moderately compacted silty clay with many heat-affected stones and charcoal (SUERC-37274; 1883–1693 cal. BC, 2σ); this contained a lens of redeposited natural. The secondary fill comprised moderately compacted, grey silty clay with occasional small stones. This was overlain by blackish-brown silty clay, which contained occasional heat-affected stones and charcoal and was loosely compacted. The uppermost fill was grey, moderately compacted clay with occasional charcoal inclusions.

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