2018:069 - Leitrim West, Moyvane, Kerry

Testing was requested by Kerry County Council Archaeologist across the site as it exceeds 0.5 ha in area. The owner of the site had applied for planning permission to strip topsoil off this area, fill the lands with clean building rubble and clean excavated soil material and to replace the topsoil to levels to upgrade the land. The total area of the site to be stripped is 1.78 ha.

A total of five test trenches were excavated across the area proposed for development. Four of the trenches were orientated east-west. Trench 1 was located at the northern end of the site and measured 140m in length x 1.2m in width. Stratigraphy consisted of a dark brown peaty silt topsoil 0.3-0.4m in depth overlying a grey marly subsoil, occasional patches of gravel material visible in subsoil. Occasional patches of waterlogging visible in adjacent ground. Trench 2, located south of Trench 1, measured 120m in length x 1.2m in width. Stratigraphy consisted of 0.2-0.3m dark brown peaty topsoil overlying a grey marl and gravel subsoil. Occasional land drains were evident crossing this trench. Trench 3 was located within the central area of proposed development and was parallel to Trenches 1 and 2, Trench 3 measured 100m in length x 1.2m in width. It was located on the most low-lying marshy ground within the site, there was more evidence for peat depth in this trench and also a considerable number of land drains, drains of small stones and red clay pipe drains. Stratigraphy consisted of peaty topsoil from 0.5-0.6m in depth overlying grey marl with drains through it. One large tree trunk was uncovered in this trench. Trench 4 was located at the southern end of the site and measured 80m in length x 1.2m in width. Topsoil was 0.2-0.3m in depth overlying grey marl subsoil, deeper peat of 0.5-0.6m in the central area of trench. Trench 5 was located at the eastern end of the site and was orientated roughly north-south, it was excavated parallel to the eastern boundary for the site and measured 80m in length x 1.2m in width. Topsoil of mid brown peaty silt ranging from 0.4-0.5m in depth overlying grey marl subsoil. Occasional drains of orange clay pipe were evident across the base of trench.

No evidence for any above ground archaeological features were identified during an inspection of the site. Testing across the area did not reveal any evidence for subsurface archaeological finds, features or deposits. 

Pier Rd., Enniscrone, Co. Sligo