Cairn — burial cairn in Barnastooka

New site identified by John Cronin & Associates (JCA) under Licence No. 16E0127 prior to wind farm development in Barnastooka, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry by ESB Wind Development Ltd. Initially identified as a concentration of loose and random dry-stones, situated at the south-western end of the T.32 hardstand at ITM grid co-ord. 505834, 571146. At the time of discovery, the feature had visible surface dimensions of 3.1m northeast-southwest by 2.4m northwest-southeast and c.0.30m in height. As the feature was situated in a position where preservation in-situ was not feasible, archaeological excavation/preservation by record of the feature was undertaken (18E0324, David Murphy). Excavation revealed that the dry-stone concentration was in fact the upper stone deposit of a burial cairn which contained a small sub-rectangular cist of Bronze Age ‘short cist’ type. Following manual clean-back, the full extent of the cairn deposit measured 7.5m northwest-southeast by 6.3m northeast-southwest, with a maximum height of 0.80m. The main cairn deposit consisted of loose and randomly placed, small to large sub-rounded and sub-angular sandstones, with occasional varying size angular shale inclusions, as well as very occasional large quartz pebble inclusions. In the central portion of the cairn, the upper stone deposit overlay a more organised deposit of generally larger stones. These stones were predominantly set on edge and were angled inwards towards the centre of the cairn. They sat upon the underlying soil and were not set within it. This differing type of stone deposit was largely concentrated in the northeast and northwest quadrants as opposed to the southeast and southwest quadrants where the random loose stones predominantly continued down to the underlying soil. The manner in which the stones were stacked, with no peaty soil inclusions between, suggests one purposeful phase of deposition, creating a solid core, on this side of the cairn. Revealed in the very centre of the cairn, underlying the upper stone deposit and abutted by the larger stacked stones in the northeast and northwest quadrants, was a small sub-rectangular cist. The cist was constructed with four thin, sub-rectangular, reddish grey sandstone slabs, set on edge to create a sub-rectangular box. A fifth sandstone slab placed on top of the vertically set slabs acting as a primary capstone, a larger upper capstone overlay the primary capstone. The vertical slabs were positioned within an introduced deposit of purplish grey clayey silt and small to medium sized angular stones. The purpose of this localised deposit was to provide a solid and secure base into which the vertical slabs of the cist were set. The maximum external dimensions of the cist were 0.60m east-west on its south side and 0.51m east-west on its north side. It measured 0.55m north-south externally. Due to its sub-rectangular shape the internal dimensions of the cist differed slightly as measured from the end of each slab. The north to south internal dimensions, as measured from the base of the cist, were 0.49m north-south at its western side, 0.48m north-south at its eastern side. Similarly, the east to west dimensions also differed being 0.39m east-west at its southern side and 0.37m east-west at its northern side. The interior of the cist was predominantly empty, but its lower portions contained two fills, the upper fill comprised a mix of clayey silt and natural manganese like mineral formation, while the basal fill comprised a mix of small to medium angular stones and clayey silt. The basal fill was essentially the same as the previously mentioned introduced deposit acted as a solid and secure base into which the vertical slabs of the cist were set. The higher level of the basal interior fill compared with the outer introduced deposit prevented the inward collapse of the vertical slabs of the cist. Some of the stones within both deposits were purposely positioned and angled to act as supporting wedges or pegs for the lower portions of the cist slabs. The only find retrieved from the interior of the cist during the excavation was found within the upper portions of the basal fill. This find comprised a small thumbnail scraper, based on known examples excavated from stratigraphic deposits at sites from all over Ireland, a broad date range from the Later Neolithic into the Early Bronze Age can be assigned to the piece. Regarding the absence of any form of bone in the Barnastooka cist, the wet nature of the peaty soil along with the moderate downward slope at its location would have facilitated much natural water ingress into the cairn and cist. This would have aided in the erosion, decay and washout of any bone remains (or also possibly pottery) which were placed within the cist. Furthermore, the small dimensions of the cist possibly suggest an association with a juvenile burial, such bones would be more susceptible to erosion and decay over time. The outer south and south-eastern portions of the cairn overlay a purposely deposited metalled surface. The metalled surface was composed of a dense and compact deposit of varying sized and shaped stones contained within a matrix of dark brown peaty soil, it extended south-eastwards from beneath the outer stones at this side of the cairn. It measured c.9.5m northwest-southeast by c.6.1m northeast-southwest and had a general depth of between 0.10m and 0.20m. The majority of the stones within the surface were purposely positioned so that their flatter surfaces were facing upwards. The mix of stone and peaty soil filled what appeared to be a natural depression in the subsoil and also slightly negated the natural downward sloping gradient of the area. The surface underlay undisturbed stones at the outer edges of the cairn and, as such, can be considered to predate the deposition of the upper cairn deposit, in particular its south and south-eastern portions. However, the surface did not underlie any of the organised and inwardly stacked stones and was not revealed underlying the core area of the cairn. It is likely that the deposition of the metalled surface was either contemporary with or slightly post-dated the construction of the inner cairn and cist, however, as no stratigraphic relationship existed between them, it was not possible to definitively determine this. Regardless, all these activities were most likely undertaken within a very short timeframe. It is unclear as to why the inner core to the south and southeast of the cairn was less well constructed. It is possible that this area remained open until the cist was sealed following the completion of the burial rituals. Such rituals may have involved the use of the metalled surface which approached the cist from the southeast. See attached photograph courtesy John Cronin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by John Cronin Date of upload: 7 April 2022