Neolithic stone axe on Tralee bypass route

THE discovery of a stone axe on the proposed route of the Tralee bypass proves that people lived in the area about 5,000 years ago.

The find was made by a 60-strong Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd group carrying out excavations along the route on behalf of Kerry County Council and the National Roads Design Office.

Senior archaeologist with Headland Archaeology, Patricia Long, said the axe was “fairly common” and dated from the Neolithic era between 3,500 and 2,500 BC.

“We would be expecting to make such finds from the Stone Age to the Medieval period when doing excavations like this, but it does show that people lived in the area several thousand years ago,” she said.

The National Museum will take the decision on what becomes of the axe.