1973:0020 - REASK, Kerry

This seasons excavations continued the investigation of the central area to the west of the roadway. Initially a modern field fence of drystone walling was recorded and removed. Underneath lay further traces of the habitation level uncovered in 1972 including an additional portion of the internal dividing wall and a number of shallow post holes. Among the small finds from this area were sherds of wheel-made pottery. Some sherds resemble the fabric and colouring of B-ware, ribbed amphorae. A little hand-made coarse ware, stone spindle whorls and a number of small glass beads were also recovered.
The full extent of the original enclosure wall was revealed and it was thus possible to establish its overall shape and plan as an irregular oval circa 45 by 40 metres in extent. The new portions of this wall were faced at intervals by large orthostatic slabs in a similar fashion to the portions uncovered in the previous season.
The main area of excavation lay to the east of the roadway where the pillar-stone and cross-slab are located. Removal of the thin sod in this area revealed the remains of a small rectangular oratory measuring 3.5 by 2.7 metres (internally). At the eastern end four to five courses of the drystone walling had survived but only the very basal course remained at the western end together with the two erect door lambs and a large threshold slab. From the rounded shape of the external eastern corners it would appear that the oratory was originally corbelled to roof height in the manner of the clochans or beehive huts— as in the small oratory on Skellig Mhichil.
Excavation to the north and south of the oratory exposed a series of long stone cists (or lintel led graves) orientated on an east-west axis and pre-dating the construction of the oratory. A second group of burials, contained within small, roughly built box-like settings of stones, and covered in some instances with quartz and sea pebbles had been inserted after the oratory was abandoned. The northern sector of the burial area was enclosed by a row of small erect slabs. Preservation of bone was minimal — only some tiny fragments had survived associated with the later graves. Finds from the burial area included three new cross-slabs, some more sherds of wheel-made pottery and a decorated red and yellow glass bead. One of the cross-slabs, now incomplete is ornamented in a style somewhat reminiscent of the Reask pillar-stone.