2020:066 - BALLINVARRIG, Kerry
County: Kerry
Site name: BALLINVARRIG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 19E0052
Author: Laurence Dunne
Author/Organisation Address: 3 Lios Na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Site type: Hearth, Structure and Pit
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 490772m, N 603620m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.173573, -9.596957
Archaeological testing was undertaken here in May 2020. Testing comprised of the excavation of ten 1.8m wide test trenches (T1–T10) with a total length of c.2173m. In total six areas (Areas 1-6) of archaeological potential were recorded in five of the test trenches (T1, T2, T6, T7 & T8). The recorded archaeology comprises of: (1) a large spread of introduced mixed fill material with slag revealed in T1 and T2; (2) a hearth; (3) three post-holes; (4) 12 pits; (5) at least 15 stake-holes; (6) two small possible features. Finds include two coarse stone artefacts (rubbing/grinding stones) and two flints recovered in T6.
Archaeological features revealed in Areas 2-6 in combination with the small assemblage of artefacts appear to reflect a prehistoric dating milieu for the site. A quantity of slag and some iron objects were recovered from the spread in T1 and T2 (Area 1).