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The Dig Tralee archaeological project underway last July at the hillfort site at Knockanacuig, The Kerries on the outskirts of Tralee. Photo by Dermot Crean
IF you interested in archaeology and history, like working outdoors, and are keen to learn new skills by working alongside experts, then head along to Kerry County Library in Moyderwell, Tralee at 7pm on Tuesday, March 28, to find out more about how to get involved in Dig Tralee.
Summer 2023 is the second year of Dig Tralee, a major archaeological excavation at Knockanacuig, the site of a prehistoric monument complex on the western side of the town.
The aim of the project is to explore this ancient monument and uncover what role it might have played in the origins of Tralee.
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Knockanacuig was once an enclosure of significant size and height that commanded a view of the surrounding area for miles around. The excavation in 2022 showed that the site was even older than originally thought, and that it has been in continuous use since the early Neolithic.
This could well be where the town of Tralee began, long before the Normans arrived and established an urban centre. But now, as the modern town encroaches on all sides, the landscape context in which the monument sits is being lost bit by bit.
Dig Tralee provides an opportunity to find out more about the site, to reinstate its prominence in the history of the town, and to connect people today with the town’s earliest inhabitants.
The dig will be led by a team of professional archaeologists with support from community volunteers. The project is an initiative of Kerry County Council, who will be responsible for the excavation, and Kerry County Museum, who will take charge of the community engagement.
If you can’t make it to the information session on March 28, get in touch with Kerry County Museum by phone 066 712 7777; email info@kerrymuseum.ie or check out www.kerrymuseum.ie or the Museum’s social media accounts to find out more.
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