Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Not marked on the OS maps, this small site is locally known as a ceallúnach (KE097-014003-) at which rounds were performed up to the first half of this century. It is situated in sloping pasture, overlooking St Finan's Bay, and is of sub-rectangular plan, measuring 13.2m NE-SW x 10.2m NW-SE internally. Its SE side is defined by a low cliff, on the upper edge of which are remnants of drystone walling. Elsewhere the site is enclosed by an overgrown, stony bank which averages 1.8m wide and .8m high externally at SW. Two uprights at W, standing 3.5m apart and averaging .9m high, may define an entrance feature. Extending from the N upright to W is a 20m stretch of stone-revetted terracing.

The overgrown interior of the enclosure is occupied by a dense scatter of stone and quartz. Some uninscribed upright slabs are present, but most of the grave-markers are small, rounded boulders. The raised N sector of the interior has a slab-lined rectangular platform of stone, including much quartz, which measures 3.9m E-W x 3m N-S and rises .7m above external ground level at S. This leacht-like feature (KE097-014002-) is retained on its S side by a double row of slabs, and a portion of a coursed step is preserved.

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

Date of upload: 30 July 2013