Ecclesiastical site in Caheracruttera

Dense vegetation prevents a close examination of this irregular stone-walled enclosure (KE042-096004-) which is situated on a gentle S-facing slope overlooking Castlemaine Harbour. Its classification remains uncertain but folklore and place name evidence suggests that it may have been an ecclesiastical site (KE045-096001-). It is known locally as An Scairt or Cathair na mBráithre and is reputed to be the site of a monastery. The adjacent field to E is known as the monks' graveyard (KE045-096002-) and the names Páircín na Manach and Srúill Chathair an tSagairt are applied to nearby features (local information; OSNB Ballinvoher 47; An Seabhac 1939, 202). A bullaun stone lies outside the enclosure at SE. The walls enclosing the site are obscured by vegetation and, though some are undoubtedly later field walls, it was not possible to determine to what extent the outline or structure of the original wall survives. However, the SW quadrant is bounded by a regularly curving arc of walling, 2.5m wide, 1.3m high internally and 2.5m high externally, which may indicate that the enclosure was originally circular or oval. The interior is occupied by overgrown heaps of stone collapse which in 1939 were apparently identifiable as the foundations of rectangular and circular houses (NMI); two rectangular buildings are marked on the 1st edition of the OS map. Mounds of blackened earth solid with shells were also visible in 1939. A human skull was unearthed in the S part of the site earlier this century (local information). The bullaun stone (KE042-096001-) now broken in two and lacking the greater portion of its lower section, is a rough sandstone block measuring .46 x .38m x .23m deep. The circular, almost vertical-sided depression is .24m in diameter and .15m deep. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 829. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013