County: Kerry Site name: MEANUS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 57:93 Licence number: 98E0372
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Ringfort - rath
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 480127m, N 593982m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.084778, -9.749107
An archaeological assessment was undertaken at Meanus, Killorglin, following an application for planning permission to construct a dwelling-house. The proposed development site lies near a recorded monument identified as a cropmark by aerial photograph in 1971 and classified as an enclosure. The monument stands on the lower slopes of Ardraw Hill, which rises out of the vast flood-plain of the Laune River. Examination of the aerial photograph seems to indicate a coherent circular cropmark, with possibly the remnants of an outer earthwork in the south-eastern and south-western quadrants.
A series of machine-dug trenches was opened in the general area of the proposed dwelling. Further investigations were continued by hand in areas of potential.
A ditch-like feature was uncovered in the north-western limits of the trenches at the intersection of the adjoining north-south trench, c. 9m from the proposed location of the house foundations. Excavation revealed it to be much wider and deeper than modern land drains. The ditch bisected the trench at about 45°, more or less consistent with the approximate location of the outer earthworks identified in the south-eastern quadrant of the cropmark enclosure. The ditch lay c. 0.35m below ground surface and was 3.8m wide on top. The western edge of the ditch was further removed to a depth of 0.9m, at which it was still coherent. The ditch was composed of two fills: a bluish/black, water-laid material with a heavy clay content, overlain by a dark brown, organic material with some small stone content. No artefacts were recovered. The ditch feature was not bottomed out. No further archaeological features were uncovered.
Curragh East, Ardmore, Co. Waterford
