1996:166 - CAHERQUIN, Kerry

Owing to a continuing problem of human bones being exposed at this site because of coastal erosion, a small excavation took place to try and find out more about the date of the remains.

Before excavation, several features were visible along a 90m length of sand-dunes on the southern side of Smerwick Harbour, near Ballyferriter. These included features that looked like stone walls in section, and also a possible cairn, again seen in section. After storms, parts of human skeletons were also often exposed, as well as different coloured layers in the cliff face, some rich in shell and charcoal.

The excavation targeted several different areas of the sandy cliff, and was more concerned with cleaning and drawing the section and taking samples rather than carrying out an excavation proper. The features exposed prior to excavation were cleaned and drawn, where possible (in some cases the height and steepness of the cliff hampered access). A vertical wall face was exposed in one area, which was not initially visible; it too was recorded.

Very few human remains were visible in situ at the time of the work, although several bones were collected at the foot of the cliff. The skeleton of one child was excavated, however. It lay east-west, with the head to the west; a stone set on edge protected the head and upper body on each side.

Several samples were taken for analysis and radiocarbon dating, and results are awaited.