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

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Kerry<br />

‘Leacanabuaile’ (Kimego West td.), Co. Kerry<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure & Souterrain<br />

Grid Ref: V44578079 (044571/080797)<br />

SMR No: KE079-016<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/year: Summers 1939 & 1940<br />

Site Director: S.P. Ó Ríordáin & J.B. Foy (University College Cork)<br />

A collapsed stone enclosure known as Leacanabuaile in Kimego West townland, Iveragh<br />

Peninsula was excavated over the course <strong>of</strong> two summers in 1939 and 1940. <strong>The</strong> site was<br />

situated on a massive rock-eminence commanding excellent views across to Valentia Harbour<br />

to the northwest and Dingle Bay and Cooscrom Harbour to the northwest. <strong>The</strong> excavation<br />

cleared the enclosure interior <strong>of</strong> collapsed stone and debris exposing evidence for six<br />

buildings, a souterrain and a wall chamber (Fig. 181).<br />

<strong>The</strong> surrounding wall was completely exposed and the enclosure was found to have an<br />

internal diameter <strong>of</strong> between 18m and 21m. <strong>The</strong> walls were 3.05m thick at the base before<br />

narrowing towards the top, and were faced with well-laid thin shale slabs on the outside and<br />

inner surfaces, with a rubble filling. A batter was evident on both the inner and outside<br />

surfaces while two ledges were found to extend around the wall tops at various points thus<br />

providing parapets from which onlookers could look out beyond the settlement. <strong>The</strong> entrance<br />

passage-way was situated along the eastern side and was defined by upright stones which<br />

may have supported a lintel.<br />

Four houses and the partial remains <strong>of</strong> another two structures were identified within the<br />

interior <strong>of</strong> the stone enclosure. House A was a round stone building erected against the<br />

western side <strong>of</strong> the enclosing wall and had an internal diameter <strong>of</strong> 4.5m. Though House A<br />

formed part <strong>of</strong> a large conjoined building with House B in the centre <strong>of</strong> the enclosure<br />

opposite the eastern entrance, it was evidently earlier than the latter structure as the walls <strong>of</strong><br />

House B were built against and not bonded into the walls <strong>of</strong> House A. <strong>The</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> House A<br />

were over 1.5m thick and reached a height <strong>of</strong> 1.67m above floor level with evidence for the<br />

corbelling <strong>of</strong> the walls from a height <strong>of</strong> 1.20m. <strong>The</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> seven postholes in its<br />

interior suggested that the structure may have been narrowed by corbelling to a certain<br />

distance before being ro<strong>of</strong>ed by means <strong>of</strong> thatch or other material, supported on posts set in<br />

the floor.<br />

<strong>The</strong> collapsed walls <strong>of</strong> two other stone circular buildings were discovered beneath the walls <strong>of</strong><br />

House B. One very definite structure was identified south <strong>of</strong> House B and had walls<br />

approximately 0.8m thick. <strong>The</strong> other structure was not as distinct but appeared under the<br />

northern side <strong>of</strong> House B. <strong>The</strong> three round stone houses (House A and the two structures<br />

beneath House B) were evidently the earliest buildings on the site.<br />

House B was a rectangular structure (7.1m by 6.15m) which covered the centre <strong>of</strong> the<br />

enclosure and allowed entrance to House A. It had rounded external corners and its walls<br />

were preserved to a height <strong>of</strong> 1.5m. <strong>The</strong> walls were on average 1.8m thick which would have<br />

enabled the structure to be corbelled to a certain point. <strong>The</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> four large<br />

postholes in the interior supports the idea that the ro<strong>of</strong> was completed by means <strong>of</strong> some<br />

form <strong>of</strong> a timber or thatched construction. Seven stakeholes were also excavated in the<br />

interior and were probably used to ‘support pot-hangers or for some other domestic purpose’.<br />

A large irregular slab (0.83m by 0.68m, and 0.2m thick) with a hole in the centre (0.2m) was<br />

revealed near the centre <strong>of</strong> House B overlying the habitation layer. Its function is uncertain<br />

though it was interpreted as a primitive chimney which may have been originally set in the<br />

ro<strong>of</strong> to allow the egress <strong>of</strong> smoke from the fire. <strong>The</strong> entrance to House B was opposite the<br />

enclosure entrance and was 0.94m. A covered drain (0.38m in width and 0.1m in depth)<br />

lined with stone flags was exposed running out from House A entrance through the main<br />

enclosure entrance and would have been used to carry <strong>of</strong>f water to outside the enclosure.<br />

370

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