County: Kerry Site name: Curraghleha West
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0339 ext.
Author: Laurence Dunne
Site type: Fulacht fiadh, trough, spread
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 486409m, N 613097m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.257842, -9.663897
The site was identified during testing in November 2019 prior to the construction of an Integrated Constructed Wetland system at Ballygarry House Hotel & Spa, Tralee, Co. Kerry (Dunne 2019). Excavation of two of the three features that were discovered during the previous testing (fulacht fiadh in Area 1 and the burnt mound material spread in Area 2) was undertaken in summer 2021. The second fulacht fiadh identified during testing was preserved in situ by changing the development layout and avoiding any impact to the monument by the construction works.
The features excavated within Area 1 (15m east-west x 14m) comprised of a burnt mound, the poorly preserved and shallow remnants of wood-lined trough and a later stone drain that traversed the mound running south-west/north-east. The mound was irregular in plan and measured c.9.2m (east-west) x 7.8m and had a maximum thickness of 0.5m. With the exception of the timber from the trough, finds recovered from Area 1 comprised of environmental samples (wood, soil and faunal). The second area (c.8m x 5m) comprised a small amorphous in plan ex-situ spread of burnt mound material and a stone field drain that was later in date. No artefacts were recovered from Area 2.
References:
Dunne, L. (2019) Archaeological Impact Assessment Report Curraghleha West, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Licence No. 19E0339. Unpublished report.
3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee Co. Kerry
