County: Kerry Site name: AN RAINGILÉIS, Ballywiheen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0371
Author: Margaret McCarthy, Archaeological Services Unit, University College Cork
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 435185m, N 603555m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.159205, -10.408973
Reinstatement of topsoil in an area of unauthorised groundworks within the zone of a registered National Monument at Ballywiheen, on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, necessitated prior archaeological excavation. Investigation immediately outside the wall of an Early Christian monastic enclosure revealed evidence of activity, some of which may be contemporary with the original occupation of the site.
The earliest archaeological feature identified was the remains of an infilled souterrain aligned north-west/south-east and 10m long. While the full extent of the souterrain could not be ascertained within the excavated area, it is presumed that it is contemporary with the original use of the monastic site. The basal courses of a stone wall 3.98m long overlay the south-eastern edge of the souterrain. The nature and purpose of this wall are uncertain. A portion of a small pit-like feature was found at the northern end of the trench, but this had no stratigraphic relationship with other features at the site.The partial remains of a human burial represented the latest phase of activity. Two fragments of the lower limbs of an adult were visible in the upper layers of the exposed section face. The available evidence indicated that the burial may have been contained within a stone-lined grave.
Material finds included a fragment of a stone lamp and a flint scraper, both of which may have derived from the occupation of the monastic site.
