2011:319 - GORTBRACK EAST 2, Kerry

Excavations were undertaken at Gortbrack East 2 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 a keyhole-shaped pit aligned north–south, measuring 1.12m in length, 0.66m in width and 0.23m in depth. Its fill consisted of greyish-brown, moderately compacted silty clay, which contained frequent heat-affected stones and charcoal flecks. A stake-hole was identified truncating the base of the pit and was filled by a loosely compacted, light brown sandy silt.
Approximately 1.1m to the north-east of the pit was a subcircular post-hole, 0.26m long, 0.22m wide and 0.1m deep. It contained two fills, including a packing fill consisting of greyish-brown sandy clay with small stones. The post-pipe fill was moderately compacted blackish-brown sandy clay which contained charcoal flecks.
Directly to the east of the post-hole was a cluster of six stake-holes that did not seem to form any obvious pattern that would indicate the presence of a structure. These varied in size from 0.05m to 0.09m across and from 0.04m to 0.08m in depth.
A second cluster of six stake-holes was identified approximately 0.8m to the east of the first. Again these did not seem to form any obvious pattern. They varied in size from 0.06m to 0.1m across and from 0.03m to 0.05m in depth.
To the south of the aforementioned activity was a small spread of grey, loosely compacted sandy silt. This contained occasional charcoal and heat-affected stones and may represent the remains of a burnt mound. It was situated within a natural depression and measured 3.2m in length (east–west), 2.8m in width and 0.09m in depth.

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