House - early medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

On the SE-facing slopes of Bray Head on Valencia Island. This was excavated in 1999 (Hayden 1999) revealing a curvilinear slot trench (W 0.25m; D 0.15m) which defined the N-E arc of a house. The NW portion of the house was removed by the construction of a later house (KE087-025016-). A pathway leading from the later house also disturbed the SE portion of this house. The excavation of this and another house (KE087-025007-) showed that they belonged to the earliest phase (Phase I) in a successive sequence of at least six phases of construction in this particular area of Bray Head. Both houses were overlain by the later house (KE087-025016-) which belonged to Phase II. An enclosure (KE087-025014-), the N arc of which lies c. 5m to the N, may be associated with this house. (Hayden 1999)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 May 2011