2014:602 - Kilpadogge, Kerry

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Kerry Site name: Kilpadogge

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 13E0465

Author: Aidan Harte

Site type: Fulachta fiadh

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 504927m, N 648598m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.580352, -9.402828

Archaeological excavation was carried out at Kilpaddoge townland, Co. Kerry, in advance of underground cable ducting and associated works relating to an ESB substation. Monitoring ultimately uncovered nine separate archaeological sites across 3295 linear metres (under licenses 13E0350; 13E0465; 14E0039; 14E0233; 14E0234; 14E0240 and 14E0241). Excavation of Site 3 was conducted under 13E0465.
The area of excavation was 24m east-west by 17m along the line of ducting trench that extended west from the substation at Kilpaddoge. This was just 4-5m from the shore of the Shannon estuary. Two distinct spreads of burnt material were identified adjacent to an infilled stream channel. The northern spread (17.5m x 7m) was intersected by a modern drain. The largely homogeneous burnt spread material was up to 0.43m in thickness and covered two troughs. The seemingly earlier trough, sub-circular in plan, had been purposefully infilled. A second trough was located further downslope (to west) and was also ovate/sub-circular in plan. An unusual linear cut was found to post-date the first trough. This was up to 5.4m in length by just 0.3m in width and 0.3m in depth. It had been stone lined before it was used as a hearth. It may have related to the operation of the second trough. The northern extent of the burnt spread was beyond the area of excavation.
The southern burnt mound measured 9.7m x 6m and was only the northern portion of a much more substantial mound visible to the south. This was up to 0.44m in thickness and while no trough feature was found, an elongated linear cut, lined with stone, was identified at the northern edge. This had almost identical dimensions to the hearth at the northern burnt spread but there was little evidence for its use as a hearth.
Four small flint flakes were recovered from the surface of the northern burnt mound, as was a probable 17th-century trading token. Two elongated stones were found within the first trough and a later Mesolithic butt-trimmed flake was found within the adjacent stream channel.
Post-excavation analysis is underway but initial findings from environmental sample processing indicate that the charcoal from the fulachta fiadh is a mix of alder, ash and hazel with some birch and yew. Samples for radiocarbon dating are now being submitted. The excavation was completed between 20 January and 11 February 2014.

Munster Archaeology, Butlerstown, Bandon, Co. Cork