County: Kerry Site name: CAHERLEHILLAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 70:43 Licence number: 93E0073
Author: John Sheehan, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 457180m, N 583560m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.985709, -10.079369
Excavations at this site, which are being undertaken as part of UCC's Department of Archaeology undergraduate training programme, continued during June 1998.
The investigation of Area 1, in which two early adult graves, both of dug-grave type, were uncovered during 1997 (Excavations 1997, 82), continued. A stone-lined and lintel-covered grave, which was partially truncated by the cut of one of the dug graves, was uncovered and will be investigated fully in 1999.
Further work on Area 2, which lies towards the centre of the enclosure, revealed further stake-holes; it now appears that the many post- and stake-holes in this area represent the former existence of two conjoined circular structures.
Evidence of another posthole structure is emerging in Area 3, in the south-west quadrant of the site, where evidence of metalworking continues to emerge.
Excavations in Area 7, located between Areas 2 and 3, revealed that the subsoil C8 overlies the present top of the site's enclosing wall. The charcoal-rich soil spread C28, which has revealed large quantities of imported pottery in Area 3, has now been found in Area 7.
Area 8, which centres on the shrine structure in the north-east quadrant of the site, was opened in 1998. All four sides of the structure, formed by upright slabs laid on end, were revealed, as was its top, which is formed of three large slate slabs. Overlying the top was a mounded deposit of quartz pebbles within which was contained at least one ceallúnach-type burial.
