2011:338 - RATHMORE, Kerry

Limited test excavations as a component part of the cultural chapter of an EIS were undertaken with regard to the proposed extension of two wind turbines at Tylagh wind farm in the townland of Rathmore in the Stack’s Mountains, c. 11km north-east of Tralee. The site lies in upland forestry, c. 290–310m OD, on steep south-facing slopes. The well-established forestry was planted c. eleven years ago in open bogland. The site was extremely difficult to negotiate owing to the frequent evenly disposed downhill drains associated with the forestry, as well as the mature trees and heavy, deep undergrowth. A V-shaped test cutting, 1m wide, was excavated down to natural by a 13-tonne back-acting tracked excavator using a 1m-wide flat grading bucket. The surface heather/fionnán grass verdure overlay dark brown/black peat to a depth of 0.5–0.6m. This in turn overlay natural sterile grey clay with occasional shaly inclusions. No archaeological
sites, features or artefacts were noted within the excavated peat.