County: Kerry Site name: Dromthacker
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KE029-097 Licence number: 22E0887
Author: Laurence Dunne
Site type: Enclosure ditch
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 486364m, N 616777m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.290896, -9.665795
Targeted archaeological testing was undertaken at enclosure KE029-097 at Dromthacker, Tralee, Co. Kerry in winter 2022. A series of five radial test trenches (T1-T5) with a total length c.120m, were excavated at the calculated location of the enclosure. The ditch of the enclosure and possible residual remains of the levelled bank were noted in all of the five test trenches. The outermost extrapolated dimensions of sub-oval enclosure measured c.28m (north-south) x 25m. The levelled remains of the 2m wide enclosing bank were manifest by very light, almost white, clay with frequent charcoal inclusions. No contemporary internal features or deposits were noted within the limits of the enclosure.
The two investigative sections excavated within the ditch in trenches T2 & T8 revealed its maximum depth of c.0.9m for while the width of the ditch in both sections varied between 2.2m to 2.3m and overall between 2-2.8m. The ditch was generally U-shaped in profile with several deposits recorded revealing a number of modifications/maintenance work stages. The stratigraphic matrix in both sections was also similar with three distinctive deposits consisting of organic material, some very compacted light coloured clay which is interpreted as representing possible bank slippage, while the very top deposit fill material represents the final backfilling phase of the ditch.
Four soil samples were recovered - two from ditch sections and two from bank material - for possible dating. No artefacts were recovered during testing.
3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee Co. Kerry
