1999:328 - CLOGHERMORE, Kerry

Owing to the importance of the limestone reef at Cloghermore as a probable cave burial site (see No. 329 Excavations 1999), it was proposed to monitor this area before the N21 re-routing, i.e. that part of the road that ran near the outcrop.

An area c. 100m by 40m was stripped by a machine with a flat bucket. Six features of archaeological significance were uncovered. They appeared to be evidence of industrial activity such as iron smelting and were in the form of furnaces and pits. The licence was subsequently extended in order to excavate these features.

All the features were found to be circular in plan and ranged in diameter from 0.55m to 1.45m. Four of the features contained varying amounts of iron slag and charcoal. One pit contained burnt red sandstone and charcoal but no slag. The remaining pit was filled with topsoil and may have been deliberately emptied in antiquity. It is likely that it too was used in some metalworking activity, owing to the evidence of intensive burning in the form of baked boulder clay around the cut. Samples have been taken for scientific analysis and dating purposes.

Further features were uncovered in this vicinity when the monitoring of the main contract commenced. Eleven subcircular features were uncovered that showed similarities to those found previously. They also ranged in diameter from 0.5m to 1.5m. These features were interpreted as bowl furnaces, in varying stages of repair. Some, however, did not show the intense burning of the majority of the features. These may have been forging pits, where the bloom was worked after it was smelted. It is also possible that they were roasting pits, to heat the ore before smelting, which would ensure a more efficient smelt.

16 Avondale Court, Corbally, Limerick