2017:078 - Ballyenaghty, Kerry

Test excavations were undertaken with regard to a planning application to construct a solar farm on a 29.9ha site at Ballyenaghty townland on the north-west urban fringe of Tralee, Co. Kerry. The tested area was limited to the footprint of the proposed internal road accessways, temporary compound area and cable trenching network. A series of 75 test trenches (T1-T75), extending for a total of 1,650m were opened across the proposed solar farm with a back-acting track machine using a 1m wide flat grading bucket.

Topsoil generally consisted of silty sandy clay, comprising mid-brown to dark greyish brown material with an average depth 0.3-0.4m to the maximum of 0.6m. It overlay mostly light orange silty sand subsoil with iron oxidisation intrusions and some grey patches. Limestone bedrock was noted in most of the trenches in the north-eastern limits of the site.

Three areas of cultural interest were revealed during testing one of which is a possible corn-drying kiln, discovered in T36 and the subsurface remains of two 19th-century vernacular settlements revealed in trenches T7, T71 and T72.

Corn Drying Kiln

T36 was expanded and an area measuring c. 5.5m x 3m opened to determine the extent of the remains. The feature is manifest as a rough figure-of-eight shape and measures 2.9m x 1.6m in maximum width and is oriented north-west/south-east. Two investigative test-boxes were excavated through the feature. In section the first test-box revealed charcoal-rich black material with a maximum depth of 0.14m and a gently sloping profile possibly reflecting the kiln bowl. No stone lining or in situ burning was noted here. The second test-box was excavated in the possible furnace area. It had a depth of 0.22-0.45m with steep sides. No charcoal was visible on the surface but cleaning revealed an in situ burning layer along its edge. In section this is very clear and is overlain by a layer of charcoal. The main fill consists of mid-brown silty sandy clay with rare charcoal and some lumps of burnt clay. Limestone bedrock was also exposed. A soil sample taken from the test-box produced several carbonised cereal seeds.

Vernacular site

Test excavations in T7 in the north-west limits of the site revealed a very fine area of sandstone cobbling and an associated cobbled drain that reflects the surface of the vernacular farmyard or the interior of an outbuilding denoted on the 1st Ed. OS 6” map. A cobbled area and stone drain were revealed in the eastern end of T71 while T72 also revealed a cobbled area and a stone-flagged floor of a house. Consequently, three off sets were added to the cuttings and both ends of the trench were also slightly extended. A possible fireplace, comprising of burnt sooty material, in-situ brick and a possible hearthstone, were partially exposed in the baulk of the trench at the south-western limits of the flags. At the western end of T72 a section of a 0.6m thick side wall of a building was found. A slightly rougher cobbled area was also noted on the outside of the wall. In the offset cuttings of T72 an extensively cobbled area, c. 6.4m x 5m, was revealed that encompassed the flagstone paving from east and north. This cobbled yard slightly sloped towards its edges. In the cutting the cobbling was manifest at a sloping depth of between 0.25m to 0.4m. The easternmost limit of the cobbled yard is defined by a kerb comprised of two projecting limestones set on edge.

Finds recovered mostly from T7 included a number of iron objects (horseshoes, nails), post-medieval/early modern ceramic fragments, clay pipe stem, and shells. Also, found during the testing in the northern limits of the site was a stray surface find of an oval medal of St. Benedict.

3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee