2021:187 - Baile na Saor Íochtarach 1, Kerry

Stage (iii) Excavation was carried out between 05 May and 04 June 2021 at the site of Baile na Saor Íochtarach 1 in advance of construction of the N86 Ballynasare Lower to Annascaul and Doonore North to Ballygarret Road Improvement Scheme, Co. Kerry. The work was carried out under Ministerial Direction Number A070 and Registration Numbers E005331 (Excavation) and R00545 (Metal Detection), on behalf of Kerry County Council. The site was discovered in the western area of the Ballynasare Lower to Annascaul section of the scheme in the townland of Ballynasare Lower during advance Stage (i) Test Excavations undertaken in 2020 by AMS.
Baile na Saor Íochtarach 1 comprised three distinct areas of archaeological remains across the site: Areas 1−3. Within these areas three phases of activity have been identified at a preliminary stage, in the absence of absolute dating: Phase 1 – prehistoric activity comprising a ring-ditch, fenceline, pits, post- and stake-holes; Phase 2 - early-medieval activity consisting of a portion of a recorded ringfort (KE044-105) bank (levelled) and ditch (in-filled) and associated field system, and a cereal-drying kiln; and Phase 3 - post-medieval/modern agricultural activity comprising field boundary bank and ditches, drainage ditches, field drains, furrows and pits.
Area 1 contained all three phases of activity. Phase 1 comprised a discrete concentration of features including a fenceline, pits and stake-holes. The fenceline consisted of a linear arrangement of three slot trenches, two pits and six post-holes, measuring 11.05m in length, that delimited the eastern extent of the Phase 1 archaeology in Area 1. Interior to the fenceline there were eleven pits and fourteen stake-holes. No structural pattern was apparent in the layout of the stake-holes. Phase 2 consisted of the ringfort (KE044-105) bank and ditch and a coeval linear ditch extending from the southern limit of the ringfort ditch. The linear ditch, which formed part of an early medieval field system directly related to the ringfort, was fully excavated within the CPO. It was v-shaped in profile, measured 1.5m in width by 0.7m in depth by 8m in length within the excavation area, and contained nine fills. Having completed the partial excavation/sectioning of the ringfort ditch during the site preparatory Stage (ii) works, which revealed a very fine stone revetment on the interior face of the ringfort ditch, it was decided, after consultation with Kerry County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Monuments Service and the Consultant Engineer for the project, that the remains of the ringfort within the CPO would be preserved in-situ. The ringfort ditch was a maximum length of 30m and width of 5m within the CPO. The investigated portion of the ditch revealed that it was v-shaped in profile, contained ten fills, and was 2.6m in depth. Phase 3 comprised a series of agricultural features including field boundaries, field drains and a furrow.
Area 2 contained two phases of activity. Phase 1 comprised a discrete cluster of six pits and five post-holes with no clear structural pattern, while Phase 3 consisted of a field boundary bank and ditches, a drainage ditch and three furrows.
Area 3 contained all three phases of activity. Phase 1 comprised a ring-ditch, twelve pits, four post- and six stake-holes. No structural pattern was apparent in the layout of the post-holes, whereas two possible drying racks were present within the layout of the stake-holes. The ring-ditch was sub-oval in plan and measured 5.32m by 3.98m externally. It was annular in form and appeared quite irregular and staggered along its length, as if originally dug in separate episodes. The width of the ditch ranged from 0.25−0.33m and the depth ranged from 0.18−0.24m. It had vertical to almost vertical sides and the base was predominantly flat, but occasionally rounded. It contained two fills. The primary fill contained occasional to moderate charcoal and occurred throughout the length of the ditch, while the secondary fill contained frequent charcoal and was a localised deposit in the western portion of the ditch. No human remains were present within the fills of the ring-ditch. Phase 2 consisted of a cereal-drying kiln and two linear ditches which may form part of a wider field system associated with the ringfort. The cereal-drying kiln was stone-lined and figure-of-eight shaped in plan, measured 4.65m by 1.58m by 0.4m in depth and contained two fills. The basal fill comprised material from the final use of the kiln, while the upper fill was a result of backfilling. Phase 3 comprised agricultural features including a drainage ditch, five furrows and two pits. One of the pits truncated the Phase 1 ring-ditch.
A small assemblage of artefacts was recovered from the excavation: a perforated stone object, two flint flakes and two sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from the Phase 1 fenceline in Area 1, while another flint flake and a hammerstone were also recovered from a Phase 1 pit in Area 1; two flint flakes were recovered from the primary fill of the Phase 1 ring-ditch in Area 3, while a stray find of a third flint flake was also retrieved from Area 3; and an iron nail was recovered from the upper fill of the Phase 2 cereal-drying kiln in Area 3.
Post-excavation analysis is ongoing and it is anticipated that specialist reports, including radiocarbon dating and comparative research, will further enhance our understanding of the site.

Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd, Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare