County: Kerry Site name: Knockanacuig
Sites and Monuments Record No.: Ke029 112 Licence number: 22E0041EXT
Author: Michael Connolly
Site type: Multi-period ritual site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 481946m, N 614655m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.270900, -9.729785
The 2024 excavations at Knockanacuig saw the excavation of the eastern half of the surviving mound/barrow site following on from the excavation of the western side of the site in 2023. The excavation confirmed much from 2023 and showed that the post circle did indeed continue on the eastern half of the monument as did the two enclosing banks and the intervening ditch.
The 2024 excavations showed that the core of the monument was originally composed of at least a cairn-like base and that the site had been enlarged and modified a number of times from at least the Early Bronze Age into the Iron Age.
Excavations in the enclosing ditch uncovered evidence for a post-built bridge or causeway across the ditch at the east and also evidence for a manmade pond feature partly enclosed by the outer bank. The overall diameter of the final stage monument, which is in effect a monumental barrow, was 56m, while the diameter of the Early/Middle Bronze Age post circle was established as 22m.
Detailed analysis of the wealth of organic material from the ditch and pond is awaited while excavations will continue at the site in 2025.
Kerry County Council, Ratass, Tralee, Co. Kerry
