Platform

This stone feature, of Mesolithic date, was revealed by peat-cutting about 200m E of the inselberg in the Imlagh Basin, Valencia Island. It is preserved in section in a 1.65m high peat-face, .4m above the base of the bog, and survives as a 6m long spread of flat slabs which incorporates an oak baulk. A thin sheet of sand extends along the peat-face from the N edge of the stone spread. A peat sample from this level yielded a radiocarbon date of 6560±120 BP. The oak baulk was dated to 8910±150 BP. Mitchell interprets this feature as a platform, laid on the surface of the bog c. 6560 BP, into which a piece of fossil oak was incorporated (1989, 78-9). 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. 25. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013