County: Kerry Site name: CAHERGAL, Kimego West
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 79:24 Licence number: —
Author: Conleth Manning, Office of Public Works, Dublin
Site type: Ringfort - cashel
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 444683m, N 580560m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.955418, -10.259820
Excavation prior to conservation continued at this site over four weeks in May when work on the floor of the circular clochán, within the stone fort, was completed. A cutting was also opened between the clochán and the wall of the fort on the north-east side and the paving of stone flags leading from the entrance of the fort to the clochán was uncovered.
Removal of all collapsed stones within the clochán revealed a brown peaty deposit over the entire floor. There was a shallow trench or gully running just inside the inner face of the wall which may have helped to drain the floor area. A central hearth-pit contained a large amount of ash, apparently built up over some time. Close on 400 stakeholes in rough wide bands formed a ring around the centre with radial bands running between this and the wall. As well as the front and rear doorways, evidence for a third doorway was found, facing north, which was blocked, possibly after a partial collapse.
Very few artefacts were recovered and none that are datable. There was little evidence for activity on the site prior to the construction of the clochán with only a couple of small features clearly predating it.
