Clochan

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.

(5) Clochauns: Clochauns C (KE042-060011-) and D (KE042-060012-) are also conjoined in a figure of eight plan and were erected against the internal face of the SW sector of the enclosure itself. Structure D is 4.5m in diameter internally with the wall 1.1m thick and comprised, internally, of large slabs set on end with dry-walling outside and above to give a surviving height of .8m. The external entrance is located on the N and is .85m wide with a jambstone on one side. An internal access to Structure C, 1m in width, is also provided with a jambstone on one side. There is no inward inclination to the walls of either structure but their small diameters and the presence of large wall stones amongst the collapse would suggest that the roofing was of the beehive-type. Excavation of the interior of clochaun D showed the hard floor surface had survived with a number of post-holes and the remains of at least 3 iron-smelting furnaces dug through this surface. Underneath the external collapse to the E of this clochaun a spread of peat charcoal and iron slag provided further evidence of this iron-working activity. From this level a spindle whorl and a sherd of imported pottery (E ware) were recovered.

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