2018:911 - Ballynasare Lower & Ballynasare Beg, Kerry

Archaeological testing and monitoring were undertaken in the townlands of Ballynasare Lower and Ballynasare Beg near, Lispole, Co. Kerry in 2018. The site is associated with the construction of the Lispole to Ballynasare Lower and Ballygarret to Camp, N86 Road Improvement Scheme, Co. Kerry.
The objectives of the work were to determine the potential archaeological impacts by the establishment of a temporary soil, stone storage and sorting compound at Ballynasare Lower on: (1) the sub-surface projected limits of a ringfort discovered in 2015 in advance of road construction (Sutton 2017, Reg. No. E004668) and an associated souterrain that was recorded in 2017 during construction works of the N86 (IAC, 2017); (2) the unknown sub-surface limits of a cluster of three recorded fulachta fiadh, KE044-093; -001; & -002, the zones of notification of which extend into the western limits of the temporary storage area; (3) the unknown subsurface limits of a fulacht fiadh KE044-092 at the Ballynasare Beg site.
Six test trenches T1-T6 were opened within and abutting the limits of a road construction compound at Ballynasare Lower. Nothing of archaeological interest were noted in test trenches T1-T2 and T4-T6. However, a single charcoal-rich pit (L: 0.6m, W: 0.3m, D: 0.14m) was noted in the eastern limits of test trench T3 and subsequently fully excavated. Charcoal from the pit returned an early Iron Age date. Monitoring of the moving of extensive mounded topsoil along the north-east limits of the compound revealed a number of undisturbed archaeological features including: (1) part of the southernmost section of a ringfort ditch; (2) a hearth feature and (3) a number of linear and amorphous features. Only very limited investigations in the ditch section, hearth and one of the linear features were undertaken. After recording, the features were secured and preserved in situ. Two radiocarbon dates from the early medieval period were obtained: the first from the basal fill of the ringfort ditch and the second from the nearby hearth feature. No artefacts were recovered.
Three test trenches (T7-T9) were opened at Ballynasare Beg at the opposite site of the road. Nothing of archaeological interest was found in test trenches T7-T9 and no evidence of the fulacht fiadh KE044-092 or any burnt mound material was found in the excavated trenches.

References:

Sutton, B. 2017. Post-Excavation Assessment Report, Baile Na Saor Beag 3, N86 Lispole to Ballynasare Lower & Ballygarret to Camp, Road Improvement Scheme, Co. Kerry. Reg. No. E004668. Unpublished Report by IAC.

IAC 2017. Progress Report No. 1, Monitoring Phase Lispole to Ballynasare Lower & Ballygarret to Camp, Road Improvement Scheme. Unpublished, un-authored Report by IAC.

3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee Co. Kerry