2018:680 - Kilderry Woods, Knockagarrane 1–3, Kerry

Monitoring took place at Kilderry Woods in advance of the approved N70 Kilderry Bends Improvement Scheme, which consists of the realignment of approximately 3.5km of the N70 road between Milltown and Killorglin, Co. Kerry. The archaeological services were funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) through Kerry County Council.
Kilderry Woods was partly assessed during Stage (i)a Test Excavations (17E0442) carried out in advance of construction by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU) on behalf of Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) during September 2017. At that time the area was under forestry, hence full-scale test trenching was not possible. Two test trenches totalling 557 linear metres were mechanically excavated along a track but no archaeological features/deposits were identified. Subsequent monitoring of the removal of tree stumps and topsoil stripping during the construction phase was therefore deemed necessary and this was carried out by the author between 13 February and 2 May 2018. As it was not possible to preserve the exposed archaeological features in situ, and in consideration of the isolated and small-scale nature of the archaeology, it was decided, in consultation with the TII Project Archaeologist, to fully excavate the features/deposits as part of the on-site monitoring works.
The sod and topsoil were generally 0.12m deep, overlying natural subsoil of orange clay and gravel, with a depth of up to 0.5m overlying shale bedrock. Both the topsoil and subsoil were heavily disturbed by forestry activities. Nonetheless, six possible archaeological features were identified at three separate locations (Knockagarrane 1–3) during topsoil removal. No dateable finds were recovered from any of these features. At Knockagarrane 1 (ITM 480854, 599840, 87.86m OD), a single, isolated pit or hearth (C6) was identified close to the highest part of the forestry area, situated roughly in the middle of the road corridor. The fill appeared to be almost entirely composed of loosely compacted charcoal, suggesting it may have functioned as a cooking pit. Approximately 440m to the north-east, at Knockagarrane 2 (ITM 481244, 600040, 70.5m OD), a pit/hearth (C1) and a pit (C3) were set c. 4m apart and located roughly two-thirds of the way down the north-eastern slope of the forest. The base of both cuts consisted of heat-affected gravel, suggesting that there had been in situ burning.
Approximately 130m to the east-north-east, at Knockagarrane 3 (ITM 481389, 600065, 61.47m OD), in the north-eastern end of the Kilderry Woods area, three archaeological features were identified in close proximity to one another, a pit (C8) and two deposits (C11, C12). The sub-rectangular, flat-based pit had a charcoal-rich primary fill and incorporated slag and iron residues, suggesting it was related in some way to metalworking, though there was no clear evidence for in situ burning, while the adjacent deposit C11 comprised solely of fire-reddened clay. The latter was partly overlain along its north-western edge by deposit C12, comprising charcoal-rich silty clay, most likely representing material disturbed from the sub-rectangular pit by ploughing.
Analysis by Dr Lorna O’Donnell, of samples taken from the single fills of the two pits/hearths, C1 and C6, as well as the primary fills of the pits C3 and C8, identified oak charcoal across all contexts, with the only other species comprising a small amount of hazel charcoal from the primary fill of pit C8. In consultation with O’Donnell, two charcoal samples were sent for radiocarbon dating, oak (0.12g) from the primary fill (C4) of the pit C3 at Knockagarrane 2 returned a 2-sigma determination of AD 1020–1154 (961±27 BP; UBA-41830) and hazel (0.06g) from the primary fill (C10) of the pit C8 at Knockagarrane 3 returned a 2-sigma determination of AD 893–1018 (1080±34 BP; UBA-41831).
Based on the similar shape, size, flat bases and two fills of pits C3 and C8, including charcoal-rich primary fills with high concentrations of oak charcoal, it is likely that they represented the remnants of charcoal-production pits.

ACSU, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.