County: Kerry Site name: KILL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Mary Cahill, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin
Site type: Souterrain and Skeleton
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 475777m, N 625850m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.370125, -9.824259
This skeleton and souterrain were discovered when part of the chamber roof collapsed spontaneously. It was reported to the National Museum of Ireland by the landowner and a rescue excavation took place during a period of four days. The fully extended skeleton, which had been simply laid lengthways on the floor of the souterrain chamber, was that of a young woman. The skeleton was oriented east-west with the head to the west. The bones were in very poor condition and had suffered some disturbance, probably from animals.
The souterrain chamber was sub-rectangular in plan. The walls were built from small local stones, capped by very large slabs. The chamber survived in good condition. It measured 2.75m x 1.75m x 1.32m. The passage had collapsed in antiquity and only a small section 0.7m in length could be surveyed. It was 0.5m in width and 0.45m in height. A fragment of quernstone had been used to form the lintel over the passage entrance.
No excavation of the chamber or passage as such took place, the purpose being to recover the skeleton. The floor of the chamber was very hard and may have had boulder clay laid down in it. No other features were noted other than a small charcoal spread close to the upper right hand side of the skeleton. There were no artefacts and unfortunately no evidence to suggest how the skeleton came to rest on the chamberfloor.
The souterrain is located within a large, approximately circular enclosure of over 29 acres which forms the townland of Kill. Local tradition refers to a church site within the enclosure.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This site was excavated in 1987 but missed inclusion in any form in the 'Excavations' bulletin that year
