1993:123 - GLIN NORTH, Kerry

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Kerry Site name: GLIN NORTH

Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 43:19, 20, 22 and 23 Licence number: 93E0005

Author: Isabel Bennett

Site type: Hut site

Period/Dating: Undetermined

ITM: E 444483m, N 607155m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.194227, -10.274839

The area in which these monuments are situated was to be planted in a Recreational Forestry Scheme. Part of this scheme included the excavation and partial reconstruction of these hut sites, to enhance their attractiveness to visitors, to whom the land must be left accessible.

43:19
This partially roofed hut (internal diameter 3.97m east-west x 2.82m north-south), the best preserved of the group, is situated in the north-east corner of a small (12.1m north-south x 11.9m east-west) stone-built enclosure. It was not marked on the 1st edition of the OS 6" sheet, but is on the 2nd, 1894 edition, so may have been built in the latter half of the 19th century.

The interior of the hut, which contains one definite and one possible wall-niche, was excavated. This was quite difficult due to the site flooding constantly because of very wet weather at the time. The upper fill consisted of stone collapse and mud. When removed, a rough cobbled floor was exposed. The only finds on the cobbles were of modern debris, indicating the relatively recent build-up of the uppermost layer.

Three test-pits were opened in the cobbles (which were otherwise left as a feature in the site). These showed that the stones had been laid on a black, charcoal layer which was deeper (up to 0.06m) on the southern, downhill part of the site. This may indicate a levelling off of the ground in this area prior to the construction of the hut. Below this was a stoney layer which overlay the natural. There was no ash in the charcoal layer, to indicate a domestic fire, and subsequent investigation indicated that this charcoal was probably formed during the burning (or many burnings) of vegetation on the hillside. Apart from the modern debris, there were no small finds at this site. A test pit opened within the enclosure also yielded nothing of archaeological interest, indicating that the area was probably used as an enclosure for stock.

43:20
This site is situated c. 116m south-south-east of 43:19, 44m to the north of the Military Road (possibly dating from the 16th century) which runs through the area. Again this site was not marked on the 1st edition of the OS 6" map, and is designated 'sheepfold' on the 2nd. This site, measuring 3.7m north-south by 3.5m east-west, was quite collapsed prior to excavation and a small shelter had been built up against the inner wall face to the north. Removal of some of the stone build-up within the hut exposed a wall niche or chamber, and also exposed the proper extent of the entrance feature.

No proper floor was found in this site, just lots of large, unevenly placed, loose stones, with a similar charcoal rich material as that found in 43:19 between them. There was no evidence for human habitation, the only major find being the skeletons of a sheep and lamb in the upper stony collapse.

43:22
This is the only site of the group which was marked on the 1st edition of the OS 6" map, where it is designated 'Clochán' in Gothic script. A note in the OS Memoranda for 1845 indicates that it had gone out of use by that date. It lies 58m to the south-east of 43:21, a clochán lying just outside the boundary of the land to be planted, and c. 39m south of the Military Road.

This site was very badly defaced prior to excavation, even the foundation courses being patchy in parts. It has an internal diameter of 3.9m. This site also contained a wall chamber and again no proper floor was found. But two flint flakes were found in the interior, one with two roughly worked edges. These were the only finds from any of the monuments investigated, apart from modern debris.

43:23
This clochán group, consisting of two conjoined huts, two smaller foundations and a very collapsed small enclosure, was not fully excavated. Stone collapse was removed from the interior to provide material for rebuilding the walls, but the original ground level was not exposed. A wall cupboard was exposed in one of the conjoined huts, and a wall chamber in the other.

It is hoped to publish a full report on these sites in a forthcoming volume of the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society.

Glen Fahan, Ventry, Tralee, Co. Kerry