Pit alignment in Ballingowan (trughanacmy By.)

Discovered in the course of archaeological excavations undertaken by Rubicon Heritage Services in advance of the construction of the N22 Tralee Bypass. The remains comprised two rows of pits that appeared to form an avenue on an alignment which was approximately 8 degrees S of an E-W axis. The rows were not perfectly parallel with each other and the distance between them was 8.6m at the E (at the limit of the excavated area) and gradually narrowed to a minimum of 5.1 m at the W. The N row contained 16 pits (0.05m – 0.34m in depth) and the S row, 18 pits (0.11m – 0.42m in depth). The rows each measured c.30m in length but it is likely that they extended further to the E beyond the road-take and this hypothesis is supported by the results of geophysical survey in this area. The space between the pits averaged 1m. No datable artifacts or material suitable for radiocarbon dating was retrieved from the pits. These pits are likely to have functioned as post-pits, as there was evidence in a number of the features for post packing and post-pipes. No comparable monument has been identified in Ireland (pers. comm. Rubicon Heritage Services). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 12 December 2012