Sheepfold

Close to the cliff-edge W of Coosbrista, on the S slopes of Killelan mountain. In rough pasture, a pair of conjoined huts of corbelled drystone construction. The larger E hut KE079-005---- is subcircular in plan and measures 5.1m x 4.5m internally. Its wall stands to a maximum internal height of 1m and varies from 1.6m to 3.1m thick. Three lintelled drystone chambers, which may be secondary, occur in the N sector of the wall. The lintelled entrance at E measures .6m high, and is .8m wide and 3.2m long. A double lintel occurs on its inner side, the uppermost forming the base of a small wall-niche. The lintelled passage at W, communicating with the W hut, measures .65m high, .8m wide and 2.5m long. The double lintel at its E end also functions as a wall-niche. The W hut is of circular plan and measures 4m x 3.5m internally. Its wall stands to a maximum internal height of .65m and averages 1.5m thick. There is some evidence for an offset at W. Its interior has been modified for use as a sheepfold. Stone debris fills the interior of both huts. 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. 1314. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 1 August 2013