What is recorded here

Old Grave Yd. is a buried chamber in County Kerry where a woman has lain since the 10th century. Small stones and large slabs built her rectangular coffin, while a little charcoal marked the place beside her body. She faced west when she was set down, waiting for no one and asking no questions. The yard vanished from later maps, but her bones still hold the shape of the dark.

Marked on the 1841-42 OS map as 'Old Graveyard', this site does not appear on the later edition, In 1987 a Man-made underground passage containing the skeleton of a woman was discovered in this region and excavation was undertaken by Mary Cahill (NMI). She discovered that the Man-made underground passage (KE020-001002-) was sub-rectangular in plan and was constructed of small stones capped by large slabs. The fully extended skeleton of the woman was orientated E-W, the head facing W. A small spread of charcoal was noted near the upper right-hand side of the skeleton, which was recently radiocarbon dated to the 10th century. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 875. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 3 August 2013

A Neolithic passage tomb; significance includes the 1987 discovery of a human skeleton, indicating early burial practices in the region.

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