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AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

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Kerry<br />

Ballyegan, Co. Kerry<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure & Souterrain<br />

Grid Ref: Q966110 (09660/11100)<br />

SMR No: KE039-023<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A.<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: July-November 1991<br />

Site Director: M.E. Byrne (University College, Cork)<br />

<strong>The</strong> site was located in a generally low-lying field 18.5m OD with the ground falling slightly to<br />

the west and south. It had been almost completely levelled and was heavily disturbed in<br />

recent times. Excavation was required in advance <strong>of</strong> quarry development. This revealed the<br />

partial outline <strong>of</strong> the walls <strong>of</strong> a cashel, as well as associated internal structures and a<br />

souterrain. External features were also discovered, for example an external corn-drying kiln,<br />

animal corral and field boundaries.<br />

<strong>The</strong> site was roughly sub-circular in plan and had internal dimensions <strong>of</strong> 30m by 35m (Fig.<br />

162). <strong>The</strong> basal remnants <strong>of</strong> the enclosure’s walls (2.4m wide) survived along the northern<br />

portion and consisted <strong>of</strong> a rubble core faced with blocks; no remnants <strong>of</strong> the southern portion<br />

survived. No evidence <strong>of</strong> a formal entrance was uncovered on the site, although it was<br />

suggested that the remains <strong>of</strong> a cobbled surface in the south-east area <strong>of</strong> the site may<br />

indicate the location <strong>of</strong> the entrance.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fragmentary remains <strong>of</strong> five possible structures were uncovered in the interior. Four were<br />

identified by the remains <strong>of</strong> truncated stake- and postholes. <strong>The</strong> fifth was identified by the<br />

remains <strong>of</strong> a stone wall with an associated hearth. Extensive disturbance to the site in the<br />

1970s made it impossible to establish any information about the size and shape <strong>of</strong> these<br />

structures.<br />

An L-shaped stone-lined souterrain containing two levels and linked to a natural cave was<br />

revealed inside the cashel. <strong>The</strong> remains <strong>of</strong> an articulated horse skeleton were recovered from<br />

collapsed material <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> its chambers, and a type <strong>of</strong> iron ploughshare dated to the tenth<br />

century (Brady 1987, 236) was recovered in the basal backfill layer <strong>of</strong> the souterrain passage.<br />

Two <strong>of</strong> the internal structures were truncated by the souterrain, while one <strong>of</strong> them postdated<br />

its construction.<br />

A ‘key-hole’-shaped corn-drying kiln was uncovered to the north-west <strong>of</strong> the cashel; and the<br />

remains <strong>of</strong> two field boundaries and a possible animal corral were investigated to the south<br />

and south-east <strong>of</strong> the cashel. <strong>The</strong> corn-drying kiln measured 2.6m long by 0.45-0.26m wide<br />

and was connected to a roughly circular stone-lined drying chamber with an internal diameter<br />

<strong>of</strong> 0.8m; while the field boundaries survived to a maximum <strong>of</strong> 2.0m wide and 0.96m high.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y were built <strong>of</strong> earth and stone and were similar to those excavated at ‘<strong>The</strong> Spectacles’,<br />

Lough Gur.<br />

A quantity <strong>of</strong> animal bone, four fragmented bone combs, a bone gouge, five iron knives, a<br />

possible awl and a fibula brooch fragment, a bronze strap fitting, two shale bracelet<br />

fragments, a stone spindle whorl, an unfinished rotary quernstone and a fragment <strong>of</strong> another<br />

and a large quantity <strong>of</strong> hone-stones and other sharpening stones were recovered in various<br />

contexts on site.<br />

328

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