2019:434 - COOLNALEEN LOWER (2), Kerry

Stage (iii) Excavation was carried out at the site of Coolnaleen Lower 2 in advance of construction of the N69 Listowel Bypass Scheme, Co. Kerry. The work was carried out between 4 and 10 June 2019 under Ministerial Direction number A076 and Registration numbers E005061 (Excavation) and R000507 (Metal Detection), on behalf of Kerry County Council. The site was discovered in the south of the scheme in the townland of Coolnaleen Lower during advance Stage (i) Test Excavations undertaken in 2018 by AMS.

The archaeology at the site consisted of three charcoal-production pits, a single small pit and a charcoal spread. A series of post-medieval agricultural drainage ditches, drains and furrows were also recorded, some of which truncated the archaeological features.

The charcoal-production pits were sub-rectangular in plan and ranged in length from 1.84m to 3.3m, in width from 1.04m to 1.2m and in depth from 0.05m to 0.3m. All three pits contained copious amounts of charcoal and showed evidence of burning in situ. The single small pit measured 0.56m by 0.43m by 0.08m in depth and contained charcoal and occasional small fragments of burnt bone. The charcoal spread measured 4.2m by 2.2m by 0.04m in depth.

The date and function of the small pit and charcoal spread are unclear at present. The three charcoal-production pits, however, are most likely medieval in date. Post-excavation analysis is ongoing and it is hoped that specialist reports, including radiocarbon dating, charcoal analysis and comparative research, will further enhance our understanding of the site.