Midden in Beginish (iveragh By.)

The N side of the sandy isthmus that joins the western end of Beginish Island to Canroe is heavily eroded. The erosion has exposed a shell midden 14m from the high water mark, as well as a number of old field walls (KE079-031001-) built of water-rolled stones. The exposed deposit is an irregular spread of shells and stones that measures 4.1m NW-SE x 2m NE-SW and averages .2m thick. Though composed mainly of limpets, the midden also contains scallop and oyster shells. The stones are water-rolled pebbles, many of which are shattered, and the deposit also includes animal bone and some red deer teeth. A sample of limpet shells from the midden yielded a radiocarbon date of 2380±50 BP (Su-1788). In 1983 a stone axehead was found protruding from the edge of the midden, and in 1988 a granite pounder with abraded ends was found resting on its upper surface. Both objects are now in NMI (1988:221; 1988:222). 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. 3. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013