Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Calluragh Burial Ground (KE079-065001-): This site is located in rough pasture on the S facing slope of the spur which runs W from Bentee mountain. It consists of an oval platform, measuring 17.7m N-S x 25m E-W, on which an ogham stone, two possible leachta and a burial area are located. The platform reaches a maximum height of 2.8m at S, where a possible entrance survives as a recessed area flanked on one side by an upright pillar. The original limits of the site may be preserved in a curving field boundary at E.

The burial area occupies the W portion of the platform, which features a large number of uninscribed slabs that stand up to .6m high. The site continued to be used as a ceallúnach until the 1930s (local information).

Ogham Stone (KE079-065002-): This stone stands close to the SE corner of the site, and is 1.22m high, .28 wide and .1m thick. It inclines slightly to S. Macalister (1945, 233) read the inscription as:

ANM GATTEGLAN

Only the initial three and final four characters are now clearly discernible. The inscription was executed in finely incised scores which are obscured on the stone’s lichen-covered surface. Macalister noted that the E was indicated by the forfid.

Leachta: Within the NE sector of the site is an oval mound (KE079-065003-) measuring c. 5m long and .3m high. It is of stony composition, including some quartz. S of the leacht a small area (KE079-065004-), c. 4m N-S x 5m E-W, is defined by upright slabs, some laid contiguously. This may be a second leacht.

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. 962. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 July 2013