Between 2020 and 2021, Kerry County Council appointed Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) to undertake archaeological investigations along two sections of the N86 road on the historic Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry.
This short film gives an overview of the preliminary findings from 16 previously unknown archaeological sites found along the road scheme.
Among the prehistoric habitation sites excavated, one site stood out. This was the well-preserved remains of a Bronze Age roundhouse. Within this site, AMS found a Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped sword, an annular mount (likely for scabbard adornment), and two fragments of a possible spearhead.
AMS also found a range of early medieval sites, including charcoal-production pits, cereal-drying kilns, metalworking sites, field systems and a portion of a ringfort. Other finds included cooking sites and burial sites, some of which had ring-ditches.
Further films will follow. These will reveal more detail on the discoveries and explain how they add to our understanding of human settlement along this scenic part of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Subtitled in Irish.