EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Kerry
‘Leacanabuaile’ (Kimego West td.), Co. Kerry
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure & Souterrain
Grid Ref: V44578079 (044571/080797)
SMR No: KE079-016
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/year: Summers 1939 & 1940
Site Director: S.P. Ó Ríordáin & J.B. Foy (University College Cork)
A collapsed stone enclosure known as Leacanabuaile in Kimego West townland, Iveragh
Peninsula was excavated over the course of two summers in 1939 and 1940. The site was
situated on a massive rock-eminence commanding excellent views across to Valentia Harbour
to the northwest and Dingle Bay and Cooscrom Harbour to the northwest. The excavation
cleared the enclosure interior of collapsed stone and debris exposing evidence for six
buildings, a souterrain and a wall chamber (Fig. 166).
The surrounding wall was completely exposed and the enclosure was found to have an
internal diameter of between 18m and 21m. The walls were 3.05m thick at the base before
narrowing towards the top, and were faced with well-laid thin shale slabs on the outside and
inner surfaces, with a rubble filling. A batter was evident on both the inner and outside
surfaces while two ledges were found to extend around the wall tops at various points thus
providing parapets from which onlookers could look out beyond the settlement. The entrance
passage-way was situated along the eastern side and was defined by upright stones which
may have supported a lintel.
Four houses and the partial remains of another two structures were identified within the
interior of the stone enclosure. House A was a round stone building erected against the
western side of the enclosing wall and had an internal diameter of 4.5m. Though House A
formed part of a large conjoined building with House B in the centre of the enclosure
opposite the eastern entrance, it was evidently earlier than the latter structure as the walls of
House B were built against and not bonded into the walls of House A. The walls of House A
were over 1.5m thick and reached a height of 1.67m above floor level with evidence for the
corbelling of the walls from a height of 1.20m. The excavation of seven postholes in its
interior suggested that the structure may have been narrowed by corbelling to a certain
distance before being roofed by means of thatch or other material, supported on posts set in
the floor.
The collapsed walls of two other stone circular buildings were discovered beneath the walls of
House B. One very definite structure was identified south of House B and had walls
approximately 0.8m thick. The other structure was not as distinct but appeared under the
northern side of House B. The three round stone houses (House A and the two structures
beneath House B) were evidently the earliest buildings on the site.
House B was a rectangular structure (7.1m by 6.15m) which covered the centre of the
enclosure and allowed entrance to House A. It had rounded external corners and its walls
were preserved to a height of 1.5m. The walls were on average 1.8m thick which would have
enabled the structure to be corbelled to a certain point. The excavation of four large
postholes in the interior supports the idea that the roof was completed by means of some
form of a timber or thatched construction. Seven stakeholes were also excavated in the
interior and were probably used to ‘support pot-hangers or for some other domestic purpose’.
A large irregular slab (0.83m by 0.68m, and 0.2m thick) with a hole in the centre (0.2m) was
revealed near the centre of House B overlying the habitation layer. Its function is uncertain
though it was interpreted as a primitive chimney which may have been originally set in the
roof to allow the egress of smoke from the fire. The entrance to House B was opposite the
enclosure entrance and was 0.94m. A covered drain (0.38m in width and 0.1m in depth)
lined with stone flags was exposed running out from House A entrance through the main
enclosure entrance and would have been used to carry off water to outside the enclosure.
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