EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Kerry
Dromthacker, Co. Kerry
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid Ref: Q85911623 (085917/116236)
SMR No: KE029-095
Excavation Licence: 97E0022
Excavation Duration/Year: 1997
Site Director: R.M. Cleary (University College, Cork)
An excavation at Dromthacker in advance of a new university campus at Tralee revealed a
univallate enclosure with two internal buildings preceded by an unenclosed settlement
associated with a small structure and gully. The site was situated on the south-westerly face
of a gradually rising ridge (58m OD) between the Big River and a tributary of the River Lee.
Pre-enclosure activity was indicated by a series of postholes, stakeholes and pits on the
eastern side of the site. The post and stakes defined a structure 3.8m by 3m. An internal pit
and a paved surface, which extended from the interior of the building to the east, were also
located. This paved area was cut by a gully (14.6m long by 0.9m wide and 0.4m deep) and
was interpreted as a drain for keeping the environs of the building dry. A hone-stone was
recovered from the paved surface, while two others were also identified within the fill of the
gully. Charcoal from the gully produced a radiocarbon date range in the fifth/sixth century
(see below).
The Phase 1 unenclosed settlement (Fig. 159) was overlain by an introduced clay layer which
was interpreted as a levelling-up of part of the site prior to the construction of the Phase 2
oval enclosure (19m by 24m internally). The enclosure bank survived to a maximum height of
0.75m and maximum width of 2.25m. The ditch associated with it was U-shaped with a
surface width of 2.7m. There was no indication of basal silting, indicating that the ditch was
either cleaned out periodically or in-filled shortly after excavation; excavation revealed that it
had been partially in-filled in antiquity.
The original entrance was not located, and a south-eastern entrance blocked in the 1980s
was associated with modern paving. Two pits and a posthole - supporting a possible gatepost
- were excavated in this area, and were interpreted as a possible original entrance,
however the ditch was however continuous in this area and these features may represent
pre-enclosure activity. The pits were bowl-shaped and contained iron slag, charcoal and fireshattered
stones. One also contained partly vitrified clay, possibly belonging to the clay
surrounding a tuyère.
Phase 2 occupation was mainly confined to the eastern and southern sections of the
enclosure interior and had surviving remains of at least two post-built buildings with internal
stakeholes (Fig. 160). Structure 1 was located in the south-east and had an estimated
internal diameter of 7.5m. A stone-spread on the south-western side was interpreted as
marking the building’s entrance. Structure 2 was recorded 2m north-east of Structure 1. It
was an oval-shaped building with an estimated long axis of 8.5m and contained an internal
hearth.
A series of external stakeholes and pits were excavated within the enclosure interior. One pit
between the two structures (but on the same stratigraphic level) contained dumped
ironworking material and charred plant remains. Charcoal from this pit produced a
radiocarbon date range in the sixth/seventh century (see below). A pit in the northern area
had evidence for in situ burning and contained burnt bone, saddle quern fragments, charcoal,
iron slag, a bi-chrome glass bead and a blue glass bead.
The radiocarbon dates from the two phases suggest that there was not any significant time
interval between the initial unenclosed settlement and the subsequent construction of the
enclosure and associated structures.
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