Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 1227. The central hut is of drystone construction. Prior to excavation and conservation its interior was filled with rubble and its wall was only preserved above ground level at W, where it stood up to 1.7m high. Here it displayed a pronounced inward corbel and a number of slabs projected from its external face. Traces of an entrance were visible at SSE. Chatterton recorded a local tradition that the roof of the hut was of corbelled stone, and noted that a lamb shelter had been constructed in its interior (1839, 280). Excavation revealed that the hut was 6.7m in internal diameter and featured two opposing entrances, each 1.1m wide. A third, blocked, entrance was located at N. Removal of the collapse in the interior of the hut revealed an occupation layer over the floor, a large central hearth-pit and several hundred stake-holes. There was little evidence for activity on the site prior to the construction of the hut. Artefacts recovered included quern fragments, scraps of sheet bronze, iron slag and tuyère fragments. Excavation between the caher entrance and the hut revealed a paving of stone flags flanked with low upright slabs.
Westropp and Henry recorded a large perforated slab lying outside the hut at SE (1912, 295; 1957, 63). This is no longer visible and was interpreted by Henry as a support slab for a timber door frame. Another slab lying in the interior of the caher, 2.45m x .7m x .15m thick, has two large circular depressions on its present upper surface.

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 603. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013

References

Chatterton, Lady G. 1839 Rambles in the south of Ireland in the year 1838, 2 vols. London. Saunders and Otley.

Westropp, T.J. 1912 Notes on the promontory forts and similar structures of County Kerry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 42, 285-315.

Henry, F. 1957 Early Monasteries, Beehive Huts, and Dry-Stone Houses in the Neighbourhood of Caherciveen and Waterville (Co. Kerry). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 58C, 45-166.