Field boundary in Grousemount

New site identified by John Cronin & Associates (JCA) under Licence No. 16E0127 prior to wind farm development in Grousemount, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry by ESB Wind Development Ltd. A man-made stone bank, constructed of loose, large sub-angular and sub-rounded stones, which possibly forms part of a collapsed relict field boundary was uncovered underlying 0.25m to 0.30m of peaty soil approximately 40m to the southwest of NICH04 at ITM grid co-ordinate 508169, 568593. The stone bank, which measured 1.5m in width east-west and had a maximum height of 0.45m, was evident crossing the trench in a north-south orientation. It was constructed above a light brownish grey, stony, clayey silt subsoil. Unlike the majority of field boundaries, hut sites and other stone-built constructions in the project area, there was no surface indication of the presence of this feature. While a number of previously identified hut sites (CH26-30) are located in the vicinity to the southwest, it is possible that this feature is of greater antiquity than the majority of evident sites as it was revealed underlying 0.25m to 0.3m of peaty soil. An additional 20m long east-west orientated test trench was excavated 15m to the north of the centre line trench. No further trace of the stone feature was uncovered within this trench. The access route was subsequently realigned over 50m to the north, no evidence of the stone bank was revealed during archaeological monitoring of this section of the route. See attached photograph courtesy John Cronin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by John Cronin Date of upload: 7 April 2022