Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 519. Calluragh burial ground/An Cheallnúach: KE042-060001- is located about 1.25km E of the village of Ballyferriter on approximately the highest point in the townland with a good view to the N over Smerwick Harbour.

(2) (KE042-060002-) Lintel grave cemetery: This consists of 42 graves extending from pillar stone A on the N as far as clochaun F in the S. The graves display an E-W alignment and are set in rows which follow but respect the curving internal face of the enclosure wall. The W limits of this cemetery are marked by the small slab-shrine. Most of the graves are of the lintel type with their sides and ends lined with slabs and covered with flat 'lintel'-type slabs. A few are simply 'dug' graves. On average the lintel graves measure (internally) 2m in length, .4m in width and .35m in depth. On excavation it was apparent that the human skeletal remains had not survived due to the acidity of the soil though phosphorous sampling proved the former presence of bone. None of the graves had a marker in situ though most of the cross-slabs were discovered lying loose in the immediate vicinity. The general context, plan and alignment of this cemetery would indicate that it dated to the Early Christian Period.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 874. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 9 August 2013

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.