County: Kerry Site name: CAHERLEHILLAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 70:43 Licence number: 93E0073
Author: John Sheehan, Dept. of Archaeology, University College Cork
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 457080m, N 583460m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.984786, -10.080782
The excavation of this early ecclesiastical enclosure was continued over a five-week period in June-July 1995 as part of the undergraduate training programme of the Dept. of Archaeology, UCC. The investigation was concentrated in four areas-Cuttings 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Cutting 1
Only one further grave in this portion of the ceallúnach was uncovered. It was located against the south baulk, was orientated east-west and was stone-lined. There were no human or coffin remains present but a number of water-rolled quartz pebbles were found in its basal fill. The modern field boundary bank, which defined the northern extent of this cutting, was removed and found to contain part of a child's cranium. This suggests that the construction of this bank disturbed the ceallúnach in this area.
Cutting 2
Excavation continued in the northern half of this area. A number of cut features were uncovered, including 33 stakeholes set in pairs and following a curved course. Two 13th-century coins, dating to the reign of Edward I, were found in an area that had been disturbed by the later ceallúnach. Excavation will continue in 1996 in the north-west of this cutting, where a number of archaeological features are still evident.
Cutting 3
Excavation of this cutting also continued in 1995. Further sherds of E and B ware were recovered form Context 28, an organic-rich soil layer located throughout this cutting. Upon removal of this layer a number of archaeological features were uncovered, including a post-hole and a furnace area. The excavation of the southern half of this area will continue in 1996. It was decided to open a new area of excavation, Cutting 3A, at the south-west corner of this cutting. It measures 2m x 6m and extends from Cutting 3, through a modern field wall and into the adjacent field to the south. It is hoped that this cutting will establish whether remains of the original enclosure bank exist beneath the field wall.
Cutting 5
This new area of excavation, measuring 2m wide, links the north-east corner of Cutting 2 with the south-west corner of Cutting 1. Three ceallúnach graves were uncovered immediately beneath the topsoil. All of these were located at the eastern baulk and were covered by stone lintels. Coffin timbers and nails were present but there were no traces of human remains. Excavation will continue in this area in order to establish a stratigraphic link between Cuttings 1 and 2.
