Metalworking site in Kilsallagh

A smelting pit was discovered in the course of a percolation test for a dwelling which was reported by Michael Connolly (archaeologist, Kerry County Council, pers. comm. 24/05/1995) to the National Monuments Service. This pit in the townland of Kilsallagh was described Connolly was follows; 'The site is situated in a level field 900m south of the main Tralee Castleisland road and affords good views of the surrounding countryside. SKE039-043---- lies 500m to the north-west and KE03-044---- lies 200m to the south-west. The pit had come to light when a JCB digger was excavating a small hole, for use in a percolation test on the proposed house site. The digger cut through the middle of the site and the gravel infill of the pit fell away in a single mass. The remaining portion of the pit is hemispherical in shape with a diameter of 0.9m. The pit is situated in a compact cream coloured gravel layer, which extends to the bottom of the 2.11m deep hole, excavated by the digger. The pit occurs 0.8m below the present ground surface. The wall or lining of the remaining portion of the pit is composed of a black layer of burnt earth and stone which is extremely hard and, in places, resembles glass. There were no lumps of slag or metal attached to this wall and investigation of the material from the destroyed portion of the pit also failed to reveal any slag. The glass-like wall of the pit is, on average, 6mm thick (Sample taken). The pit would appear to have been originally spherical with an overall diameter of 0.9m-1m. The infill, which fell away when the site was cut by the digger, is of the same soil the surrounding gravel type as layer and, as such, filled into the pit over time. The remaining portion of the pit will be reburied when the percolation test is completed and the proposed plans for a private house do not interfere directly with the site'. See attached location maps courtesy of Michael Connolly. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 June 2022