Field system

The National Monuments Service's description

An oval area of bog, termed the 'Imlagh Basin' by Mitchell, is located on the N side of Bray Head, Valencia Island (1989, 3). This peat-filled basin, 4km x 2km, extends from close to Foilnanean at W to Shrone Point at N. The cliff-edge is separated from the N and W limits of the basin by a narrow rim of peat-free ground. A series of walls cross this strip and extend into the basin, where they have become buried by peat. Other archaeological sites in the basin include six fulachta fiadh (KE087-078----, KE087-001----, KE087-001001-, KE087-001002-, KE087-005----, KE087-005001-), two early ecclesiastical sites (KE078-005----, KE087-004----), a standing stone (KE087-002----), earthen and stone intra-peat trackways (KE087-074----, KE087-075----, KE087-088----, KE087-089----, KE078-024----, KE087-078----), a stone platform (KE087-008----) and other areas of pre-bog walls (KE087-067---- and KE087-006----).
Mitchell has identified up to fifteen stretches of walling from Beenaniller Head to Culloo Head (ibid. 51-60), most of which are covered by peat at some point along their length. Wall 1 is represented by a short ditch, cutting off the tip of Beenaniller Head. Walls 2 to 7 emanate from Coosagauna and run S until they reach the Bray horst, where they become enveloped in peat. Half of these walls are located on the S side of a modern track that runs at the base of this ridge. Walls 8-9, 11 and 13-15 are well-defined lengths of stone walls, running from the cliff-edge down into the peat at their E and S ends. They extend from just S of Coosheennagruhoge to Culloo Head at N. Wall 10 starts 300m inland and is of ditch and bank form. Other walls are entirely of stone; some are composed of double lines of slabs, but the majority comprise single lines of large stones, some of which are transversely disposed to the lines of the walls. Wall 13, built by using a combination of these techniques, extends for at least 750m and overlies peat at its S end; here a sample of peat from its level yielded a radiocarbon date of 2680±90 BP (ibid. 58). Close to its NW end are the remnants of circular hut, 3m in internal diameter. Wall 12 is a complex of walls that links with Wall 13 at one point, and, if intact, would have formed a number of irregular fields with a total area of c. 1.25 ha. Radiocarbon determinations at one point indicate that these walls were constructed between 2900±90 BP and 2050±80 BP (ibid, 58). The remnants of four probable huts and a small enclosure are incorporated within the complex. NE of Wall 15 is a large, circular enclosure with an internal diameter of 30m; a circular and a subrectangular hut are incorporated in its W and SE sides respectively.

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

Date of upload: 28 July 2013