2021:192 - Gortacurraun 4, Kerry

Stage (iii) Excavation was carried out between 30 April and 21 May 2021 at the site of Gortacurraun 4 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 E005292 (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.
The archaeological features at Gortacurraun 4 were localised in two areas: the south-western area consisted of a sunken structure, eight pits, three post-holes, 24 stake-holes and three spreads; the north-eastern area consisted of four pits and two hearths. A field drain and a furrow were also excavated in the north-eastern area.
The sunken structure was sub-rectangular in plan, measured 6m in length by 1.8m in width by 0.64m in depth, and contained six fills and one stone deposit. It was lined with a roughly-set stone floor and contained the basal remains of two walls localised along its longitudinal edges. Two pits, one post- and five stake-holes were cut into the base or edges of the structure. An additional six stake-holes were cut into the natural subsoil along the edges in close proximity to the structure. Adjacent to the sunken structure, to the west and south, were two pits, two post-holes, twelve stake-holes and three spreads. One of the pits in the north-eastern portion of the site continued beyond the limit of excavation. It was sub-oval in plan, had maximum exposed dimensions within the excavation area of 1.96m in length by 0.9m in width by 0.26m in depth, and contained two fills. The upper fill of the pit contained frequent heat-affected stones suggesting either the pit served as a fire pit or possible cooking pit or that or the burnt stones were the remains of a burning event deposited within the pit.
Sixteen artefacts were recovered from the excavation consisting of a fragment of a stone thatch weight and a perforated stone from the sunken structure, a possible hammerstone and a perforated stone disc from a pit adjacent to the sunken structure, and twelve pottery sherds from a pit in the north-east of the site.
In the absence of absolute dating, it is not possible to satisfactorily assign a date for the archaeology at Gortacurraun 4. The stone finds would not be out of place in a prehistoric or early medieval context, and the pottery is also not definitively datable at present and will need specialist analysis to confirm its provenance. The field drain and furrow are considered to be post-medieval/modern in date.
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