What is recorded here

Over a hundred small grave markers crowd the north half of a rock-strewn field on Knocknadobar, watching the Valencia river estuary through low stony banks. The children may have belonged to a nearby household, a passing trade route or a forgotten village, yet they were given enough room and marking to remain separate from adult death. Three larger blocks in the south-west quadrant belong to a black man in local story, suggesting the ground held more than infant loss and that memory preserved an unusual presence long after the names disappeared.

Children's Burial Ground: This subrectangular site is located in the SW corner of a rock-strewn field on the lower S slopes of Knocknadobar, and overlooks the Valencia river estuary. Except at S, where it is delimited by a modern field boundary, it is defined by low stony banks which incorporate boulders and outcrop. The enclosed area measures 16m N-S x 11.5m E-W and contains over 100 small grave-markers, most of which occur in its N half. Some are upright and are arranged in regular N-S rows. Three large rectangular blocks in the SW quadrant are locally reputed to mark the grave of a black man. 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. 1028. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

Children’s Burial Ground, Killurly East is a subrectangular prehistoric burial site, likely dating to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Its significance lies in its specialized use for the burial of children, offering insight into ancient funerary practices and social structures in the region.

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