2019:637 - Ballinskelligs Abbey, BAILE AN SCEILG, Kerry

Phase 3 of archaeological works at Ballinskelligs Abbey and Graveyard was undertaken in August 2019 and comprised of additional works within Cuttings 5-10 which were opened in Winter 2018 and excavations of three new investigative cuttings (11-13).
On re-opening of Cutting 5 a few irregularly disposed and poorly laid stones and rough concrete were removed from the overarching boundary wall to expose as much original fabric and/or direction of the castle wall. Removal of the stones revealed that there is no return seawards of the castle structure. A small baulk between Cuttings 5 and 6 was also excavated revealing a cavity below the existing windowsill which was filled with very loose material containing frequent large and medium stones. It would appear that the current window is not original but a later addition or and alteration. The masonry within the cavity is battered to the north-east which raises the possibility that this was originally a side or corner of an earlier structure rather than a doorway. The objective of works within Cutting 7 was to establish the potential for a stratigraphic connection between this recently revealed wall and the existing linear wall, currently being conserved by the OPW. The excavated extension measured 1.5m x 1.4m x 0.55m in maximum depth. The full width of the wall found in 2018 was exposed: 1.2m max with 0.2m of protruding footing. The wall is in line with the existing wall under repair by OPW but there is no continuation between them. Additional archaeological works within Cuttings 8 and 9 were undertaken to recover possible secure samples for radiocarbon dating below the threshold stones revealed in 2018. The southernmost threshold stone in Cutting 8 was lifted. On lifting of the stone, a thin layer of loose mortar was exposed and sampled. Within Cutting 9 one of the mortared through-stones forming the threshold stone was lifted revealing a fill containing shells, small stones and occasional charcoal which also was sampled. Within Cutting 10 all features were re-cleaned and recorded in association with an osteoarchaeologist. The revealed remains comprised of the pelvic region of an adult female. Around the right ulna and radius, a rosary beads was recorded. On completion of the recording the remains were secured in situ by the osteoarchaeologist. Also, to facilitate the proposed works, the two ex-situ skulls were moved to the deeper end of the cutting and secured. At the completion of the works the cutting was backfilled with sandstone pea gravel. The new Cutting 11 was excavated to facilitate the erection of signage (similar to Cutting 10). After de-sodding the 2m x 0.7m cutting was cleaned by hand. At a depth of c.0.3m pure beach sand was encountered which proved that this area had been previously eroded and backfilled with the sand. Nothing of archaeological interest was noted in Cutting 11. Cutting 12 (2.6m x 1.14m x 0.5-0.7m) was excavated through the central belfry archway between nave and chancel. The objectives were to reveal the basal courses of the arch and recover possible secured material for dating purposes. Excavated fill contained a surprisingly substantial quantity of large and medium sized stones for such a small cutting. One of the stones which was protruding from the ground was found to be an architectural fragment comprising of a double chamfered arch fragment. Other finds included a single sherd of green glazed pottery, a small pestle-stone and several broken slate fragments. No articulated burials were present in the cutting. Excavation revealed the basal courses of the archway that comprised of a neat sandstone plinth that mirrors and matches the string course under the springing of the arch. The chamfered edges of the arch piers also terminated in neat triangular stops. No flag stones or any floor surface was recorded under the archway which were probably robbed out in the past. Cutting 13 was opened beneath the single doorway on the north sidewall of the nave. A fragment of a decorated rotary quernstone re-used as a gravemarker was recovered from the top of the cutting. A partially unmortared stone surface that formed the threshold was revealed (see image). Decorated stops were noted on the basal plinths of the heavy roll moulding on the exterior of the doorway (see image).

References: Dunne L. (2019). Ballinskelligs Abbey Archaeological Excavation Status Report, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry, Consent No. C000815, Licence No. E004993. Unpublished report, Laurence Dunne Archaeology

3 Lios Na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry