1993:118 - CAHERLEHILLAN, Kerry

Excavations at this site commenced in 1992 and continued over a five-week period in June-July 1993 as part of the undergraduate training programme of the Department of Archaeology, University College, Cork. The site consists of a sub-circular enclosure, 31m east-west which is bisected by a laneway at north. In its north-east quadrant is a raised ceallunach in which are two cross-inscribed slabs and a rectangular leacht or shrine.

Cutting 1, measuring 5m x 5m, is located in the ceallunach portion of the site. Over 20 small graves have been excavated here to date, a number of which produced fragments of human bone. Both stone-lined graves with lintels and dug graves in which the burials took place in coffins are represented. A compact layer beneath the level of the ceallunach graves will be investigated in 1994.

Cutting 2, measuring 5m x 4m, is located towards the centre of the enclosure. The uppermost deposit here, and in Cuttings 2a, 3 and 4, consists of a thick layer of hill-washed material. The archaeological features noted beneath this consisted of a number of pits, postholes and stakeholes. Cutting 2A was opened to north of Cutting 2 to investigate if these continued in this direction. It measured 3m x 4m and features further stakeholes and the foundation trench for the corner of a rectangular structure. Investigation will continue here in 1994.

Cutting 3, is located in the south-west quadrant of the enclosure and measures 6m x 5m. A number of pits and postholes have been revealed, though their nature is as yet uncertain. Two layers of soil have yielded considerable quantities of imported Early Medieval pottery as well as spindle whorls, a glass bead etc. This cutting will be further investigated and extended in 1994.

Cutting 4, measuring 7m x 2.5m, traverses the enclosing element at south. This consists of a collapsed rubble-built wall, up to 1.15m in height. The investigations will continue in this cutting in 1994.