Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 156. Caheradadurras/Cathair Sayers/Cathair an dá Dhoras: A triple clochaun, of corbelled drystone construction, with a souterrain opening from the floor of the central hut, and a subsidiary structure at the SE corner which may be modern. It is located on the lower S slopes of Mount Eagle, overlooking Dingle Bay.
Central Hut: The largest of the 3 chambers, this measures 5.6m in diameter internally, and its wall stands to a maximum internal height of 2.25m. A small lintelled wall niche, located .75m above the floor at NW, measures .44m in height, .41m in width and .6m in depth. A possible drain, now blocked, opens off the inner wall face at S and measures .5m in width, .17m in height and .4m in depth at present. The function of the stones on edge in the interior, protruding c. 0.1m above the gravel floor, is not known. The entrance from the exterior at SE now lacks its roof and is blocked by a modern stile. The passage is 1.95m high and 2.75m long. The lintelled and paved passage communicating with the E hut measures 1.14m in height, .8m in width and 2.25m in length.
E hut: This measures 4.05 to 4.2m in diameter internally and its wall stands to a maximum internal height of 2.25m, possibly including some recent rebuilding on top. There are small lintelled wall niches at NW and SE. Macalister (1899, 257-8) mentioned traces of a blocked doorway in the S wall, but there is no visible evidence for this at present.
W hut: The lintelled passage leading between the central and W huts is 1.3m high, 1.1m wide and 1.9m long. The hut measures 3 to 3.5m in diameter internally, and its wall stands to a maximum internal height of 1.1m. There is a small wall niche at SW.
Subsidiary chamber: A small, sub-rectangular chamber abutting the SE side of the E hut. It measures 1.63m x 2.4m internally, and its walls stand to a maximum height of 1.6m The basal course of the walls consists for the most part of large slabs up to 1.35m in height, and these are overlain by slightly corbelled drystone masonry. The entrance at W is unroofed. This structure is not mentioned in Du Noyer's account of the site in 1858 (Du Noyer, 14-5), and it is possible that it was constructed after his visit. The paved pathway leading from this hut to the entrance to the 3 clochauns was also not recorded by Du Noyer. However, he did note a flight of steps on the outside of the S wall of the central hut, but there is no trace of these now.
Souterrain (KE052-186001-): The well entrance at the W side of the middle clochaun is located at the E end of an L-shaped souterrain, comprised of a 3.22m long passage running roughly E-W, and a 2.75m long chamber aligned N-S. The passage is .55m wide, .67m high at the entrance and 1.2m high at its W end. A narrow lintelled entrance, .37m wide and .55m high, gives access to the chamber which is 1.05m wide and 1.25m high. The walls are of drystone construction throughout, the basal course consisting of larger stones then the remainder. The floor slopes gently down from the entrance, though the flagged roof maintains a constant level. The flags over the passage form the floor of the entrance passage above.
Amulet(?): This stone object, 9.5cms long, with a perforation at one end, was discovered at the site and later purchased by Macalister (1899, 323). It was inscribed on one side with a Latin cross with expanded terminals. A spindle-whorl was also discovered at the site (Macalister, 308).

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 1284. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 5 August 2013

References

Du Noyer, G.V. 1858 On the Remains of Ancient Stone-built Fortresses and Habitations occurring to the West of Dingle, County Kerry. The
Archaeological Journal 15, 1-24.

Macalister, R. A. S. 1899 On an Ancient Settlement in the South-West of the Barony of Corkaguiney, County of Kerry. Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy 31, 209-392.