County: Kerry Site name: Inishvickillane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KE061–006 Licence number: C066; E2471
Author: Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, 32 Nicholas St, King’s Island, Limerick.
Site type: Ecclesiastical remains
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 420910m, N 591291m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.044630, -10.610952
The limited archaeological excavation was undertaken on behalf of the DoEHLG as part of continued conservation works on the national monument. This season’s work involved the removal of the modern water catchment, which lay to the south-west of the oratory. The catchment area measured 9m north–south by 5.25m and was surrounded by drystone walling. The upper surface of the catchment area was formed of concrete, which rested on a bed of sand. This was underlain by plastic sheeting. A modern pipe was positioned near the middle of the catchment area, which channelled the rainwater. The plastic sheeting was found to rest directly on the original sod level. When this was removed, the natural parent material of dark- to mid-brown humic peat with patches of clay was exposed. Bedrock protruded through the natural parent material in several places. The drystone walling was left in situ. During the course of this investigation the island’s archaeological features were surveyed using GPS equipment.
