What is recorded here

Church Island holds National Monument No. 59, preserving a circular wooden hut and rectangular oratory from its earliest occupied period. The hut reached six metres across, contained a pit furnace, and still holds charcoal, shells and animal bones within its occupation layer. It probably stood beside the burial marked oratory, forming a small living and praying settlement at the island's centre.

National Monument No. 59. Evidence for the earliest period of occupation on the island comprised a circular wooden hut and a rectangular wooden building. The latter feature was associated with a group of burials and was interpreted as an oratory. Though not demonstrably related stratigraphically, the hut and oratory were probably contemporary. The remains of the hut, located towards the centre of the island, consisted of an arc of low stones set on edge, two post-holes and an occupation layer. The latter included charcoal, shells, animal bones and the remains of a pit furnace. The structure may have had a diameter of up to 6m. 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. 927. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.