Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Calluragh Burial Ground (KE089-049003-): This terraced site of D-shaped plan is situated on the steep SE facing slope of Knag, and overlooks Lough Currane to S. Measuring 34.7m N-S 42.6 E-W externally, its enclosing element is poorly preserved. It is defined by modern field boundaries at NW, N and E, and traces of a low curving bank, 1.2m high externally, may represent the original enclosure at SE and S. A short stretch of external drystone facing is present at W, at the N end of which are two low uprights, .8m apart. These may mark the original entrance. Running E-W from the entrance is an artificial scarp which averages 1.2m high and divides the interior of the site into an upper and lower terrace. On the lower terrace are the remains of a hut and of a leacht, surmounted by a cross-slab.

In the area between the hut and the leacht is a stony surface, approximately 14m N-S x 12m E-W, that contains a large number of upright slabs and boulders. These presumably relate to the use of the site as a ceallúnach, which continued until at least the 1840s (OSNB Drummod, 189)

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

Date of upload: 30 July 2013