County: Kerry Site name: Ballycasheen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0683
Author: Katarzyna Labaj
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 498438m, N 590486m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.057017, -9.481002
Licensed archaeological testing at Ballycasheen was undertaken in November 2024. For ease of recording the current test trenches were numbered consecutively from those undertaken in 2021 (Dunne 2021). In that context, five parallel north-west/south-east orientated test trenches (T7-T11), with a total length of 610m, were opened across the eastern limits of the proposed development site.
All the test trenches revealed that the site comprised of similar deep layers of disturbed ground as recorded in the western limits of the site in 2021. No original topsoil was encountered during testing. The excavated material presented as very mixed and stony introduced material containing large quantities of all kinds of builder’s rubble/waste (concrete, tarmac, plastic, tiles, wood, brick etc.) and was extremely difficult to go through. Due to the presence of the fill material, it was decided to excavate several sondages in each trench to establish its precise depth. Excavation of the sondages revealed a depth of over 2m, at which point investigation was ceased for health and safety considerations. Firm, mid-greyish/purple sandy gravel subsoil was seen in the sondage in T10 at a depth of 2.2m. No subsoil was seen anywhere else on the site. Consequently, the remainder of the test trenches were excavated to an average depth of 0.2-0.3m, as all trenches revealed disturbed ground of modern introduced fill material. Nothing of archaeological interest was noted in any of the trenches.
Reference:
Dunne L. (2021) Interim and Final Archaeological Test Excavation Report, Flesk Grove, Ballycasheen, Killarney Co. Kerry. LDA Unpublished report
195 Shanakill, Tralee, Co. Kerry
