2021:190 - Gortacurraun 2, Kerry

Stage (iii) Excavation was carried out between 06 April and 04 June 2021 at the site of Gortacurraun 2 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 E005302 (Excavation) and R000545 (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 Gortacurraun during advance Stage (i) Test Excavations undertaken in 2020 by Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd.
Gortacurraun 2 was located within the Zone of Notification/Archaeological Potential surrounding KE044-106, a ringfort, although none of the known monument existed within the CPO. The site comprised one cremation pit, one cereal-drying kiln, three charcoal-production pits, 73 stake-holes, 48 pits, 18 post-holes, ten ditches, eight spreads, four deposits, two linear features, two hearths, two possible capstones and one firing pit. The main concentrations of features were located in the southern and north-eastern areas of the site with a number of other features spread out across the site.
The cremation pit measured 1.38m by 0.7m by 0.17m in depth and contained five fills. The basal fill contained frequent small angular stones (some heat-affected) with occasional charcoal. The secondary fill included occasional charcoal, occasional heat-affected stones and occasional burnt bone. Frequent charcoal and occasional burnt bone were recorded in the third and fourth fills, while the upper fill had occasional charcoal, occasional burnt bone and occasional heat-affected stones.
The cereal-drying kiln was sub-rectangular in plan and measured 6.45m in length by 1.95m in width by 0.53m in depth. It had a stone-lined flue and firing pit and contained five fills. Two possible phases of use were identified, and a perforated stone object and a possible hammerstone were recovered from the kiln. Four post-holes, one stake-hole and one pit were sealed by various fills within the kiln indicating they were directly associated with it. A further nine post-holes and 29 stake-holes were located to the immediate west and south of the kiln. The post- and stake-holes likely constitute one or more structures and may have been associated with the kiln. Two hearths were found in proximity to the kiln, one of which contained a stone lining. A series of three intercutting pits and one post-hole were cut by the lined hearth. There were an additional 20 pits located in the areas to the west, south, east and north of the cereal-drying kiln.
Two charcoal-production pits were present in the north-east of the site and one in the south-east. In the north-east they measured 1.21m by 0.79m by 0.04m and 1.42m by 0.92m by 0.2m. Both were sub-oval in plan with flat bases. The first contained a single fill while the second contained two fills; a flint flake was recovered from the upper fill of the second. The charcoal-production pit in the south-east was sub-oval in plan and measured 2.4m by 1.1m by 0.19m and contained two fills.
The north-eastern area of the site predominantly consisted of stake-hole clusters with associated pits. The earliest features in the sequence were 22 stake-holes. Overlying these stake-holes were three intercutting pits. The western pit was sub-oval in plan and cut eight of the stake-holes. This pit was cut in the north-east by a smaller subcircular pit that cut a further eight of the stake-holes, with a ninth stake-hole recorded along its edge. The third, easternmost pit, truncated the eastern portion of the second pit. A cluster of seventeen stake-holes were recorded immediately to the south-east of these intercutting pits and were likely associated. South-west of the intercutting pits was a sub-oval pit while an additional three pits were recorded immediately north-west of the pit and stake-hole cluster.
Located in the central-east area of site was a sub-oval pit that measured 1.36m by 1.02m by 0.25m in depth and contained four fills. The basal fill comprised charcoal-rich sandy silt with occasional heat-affected stone. Multiple lenses of oxidisation within this fill indicated more than one burning event. This fill also included the occasional remains of charred seeds and one burnt timber fragment located in the southern half of the pit. Overlying this fill in the southern half of the pit was a deposit of flat stones that appeared deliberately set down and may have represented a working surface or possible cooking surface. The high charcoal content, multiple lenses of oxidisation and heat-affected stones indicate in-situ burning and the pit appears to represent a fire pit or cooking pit.
In the centre of site were two intercutting pits that did not appear to be associated with any other features. The first in the sequence was subcircular in plan. It contained a single fill with occasional charcoal. It was cut in the north-east by a sub-oval pit that contained frequent small heat-affected stones and occasional charcoal. Approximately 10m north was a sub-oval pit that contained two fills.
There were nine ditches excavated across the site that were interpreted as the remains of an early medieval field system associated with ringfort KE044-106 located to the north-west of the site. Five of the ditches were linear and were orientated north-east/south-west while two further linear ditches were orientated north-west/south-east. The remaining two were curvilinear in plan. The largest ditch measured 74.9m by 1.7m by 0.9m in depth and extended across the entire site. Three possible rubbing stones were recovered from two of the lower ditch fills while a flint flake was recovered from the upper fill. Two copper-alloy objects were recovered from the basal fill of one of the other ditches.
In the absence of absolute dating, it would not be unreasonable to suggest prehistoric and medieval dates for the archaeology at Gortacurraun 2.
Preliminary post-excavation analysis has commenced, and it is anticipated that this analysis, including radiocarbon dating and comparative research will further enhance our understanding of the site.

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