2020:005 - Kilfenora, Fenit, Kerry

A pre-planning test excavation was carried out in Kilfenora townland on the eastern outskirts of Fenit village. The landowner proposes to construct a new farmyard in a field to the immediate south of a ringfort (KE028-071). Four test trenches were excavated at a regular interval across the area proposed for development and three features of potential archaeological significance were identified. These were all clustered at the southern end of Trench 1 in the south-west corner of the field proposed for development and comprise two probable drainage features (F1 and F3) and a rectangular-shaped shallow cut feature (F2). One of the drainage features (F3) extended east-west across the test trench and a section at the east-facing baulk revealed a shallow trench measuring 0.72m in width and reaching a maximum depth of 0.19m. It had steep straight sides, a flat even base and was filled with a mixed dark brown friable sandy silt containing many large stones and occasional lumps of redeposited clay. A shard of modern glass was recovered towards the base of the trench and this combined with the high incidence of medium and large stones in the fill suggest that it represents a drainage feature. Another probable drainage feature (F1) was identified to the south of drainage feature (F3). This extended from the south-east corner of Trench 1 in a north-west direction for a length of 10.4m before extending under the baulk 2.2m south of F3. A section through the feature revealed a narrow U-shaped cut with sloping sides and a narrow smooth base. The fills consisted of a mid-brown sandy silt containing occasional medium-sized stones.

A rectangular-shaped feature (F2) was exposed 0.18m to the south of the possible drainage trench (F3). It was oriented north-west/south-east and measured 1.28m in length and 0.58m in width. A section across the short axis revealed a trough-like feature with a maximum depth of 0.48m, gradually sloping sides and a broad U-shaped profile. The fills consisted of dark brown sandy silt with occasional medium-sized stones. The dimensions and appearance of the feature are similar to troughs found on fulachta fiadh sites but there was no evidence for any burnt stones either in the fill or on the surrounding surface, nor was there evidence for any in situ burning. No charcoal or material finds were present in the fill to provide a date for this feature.

Rostellan, Midleton, Co. Cork