ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE KERRY GEOPARK
[ârkee'âlujee]The branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures. |
Stone age | Bronze age | Iron age | Early medieval | Late medieval
STONE AGE (4000 BCE to 2400 BCE)
Within the study area the earliest identifiable evidence of mans activity are the wedge tombs at Coumatloukane. Three of these four tombs were excavated by Herity in 1967. A small quantity of cremated bones was found in one of the tombs. The Neolithic practice of building megalithic tombs continued into the Bronze Age and wedge tombs in other areas of the south-west of Ireland have been dated to the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.
Examples of rock art, which may be Neolithic in date (O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1993), are found in ten townlands throughout the area. However the largest collection is located 15 km to the north-west of Sneem, (slightly outside the study area boundary) where the monuments are concentrated in the townlands of Derrynablaha and Derreeny. Some 33 examples of rock art have been recorded in this complex , making it the largest concentration of rock art in Ireland . Framed by Mullaghanattin Mountain to the west, Knockaunanattin Mountain to the north-east and Knocklomena Mountain to the east the monuments are located on the lower mountain slopes in this remote valley below the spectacular Ballaghbeama Gap. Lough Brin from which the Kealduff River flows dominates the valley floor.
BRONZE AGE (2200 BCE to 600 BCE)
The Bronze Age in Ireland is generally taken to span the period from the earliest introduction of metal, around 2200 BCE to the slow transition to iron metallurgy after 600 BCE. The success of bronze metallurgy is partly linked to the availability of copper ores. The only prehistoric copper mines identified to date on the Iveragh Peninsula are all found within the study area. They are located at Behaghane, Coad and Staigue. Excavation at Ross Island copper mine near Killarney have dated the workings to 2200-2400 BCE.
At primitive mine sites two characteristic of the activity may be in evidence. The first is the actual mine working and the second is the spoil heap, where preliminary crushing and sorting of the ore was undertaken. The mine workings at Coad, Staigue and Behaghane consist of shallow inclined openings in the rockface which follow the mineralised outcrop. The smooth domed profiles of all three workings indicate the practice of fire-setting which involved setting a fire against the wall of the outcrop to expand and loosen it. This was then broken away by pounding with cobble hammers or mauls. Rock debris was usually then dumped close to the entrance to the working. There is no identifiable associated spoil dumps with the working at Behaghnane. At Coad, a possible spoil dump, overlain by peat is located on a relatively level area below the working. Peat cover in this area however prevents identification of other possible mine openings on the rock scarp. A shallow infill at the mine entrance at Staigue may conceal a small spoil dump.
The primitive copper mine at Behaghnane is known locally as St Crohanes' cell or Carraig Chrócháin and is dedicated to St Crohane, the patron saint of the parish (OSL). It was visited as a station of a turas or pilgrimage during the now-defunct three day pattern of Kilcrohane, which commenced at Toberavilla on 29 July. The mine is located c. 300m NE of the summit of Coad Mountain .
The existence of shafts and denuded spoil-dumps further along the quartz reef at Behaghnane indicate that intermittent industrial mining activities took place here in the nineteenth century. Some of these trials however may relate to the industrial activities of Sir William Petty and the Kenmare Colony during the 17 th and 18 th centuries. (O'Brien 1987) This primitive mine was used as a forge in 1808 (O Suilleabhain 1945) and a drystone rectangular structure adjacent to it may be related to the later mining activities. Two drill holes located in the rear wall of the copper mine at Coad, probably date to 19 th century exploration in this area (O'Brien 1987)
Bronze age farming
Bronze Age farming activity within the study area is represented by pre bog field wall systems at six localities. This provides evidence that stock raising rather than tillage was the dominant type of agriculture practised at this time and that the region was well populated at this time.
A single Fulacht Fia (an ancient cooking site) has been identified within the study area in Fermoyle townland. These sites are generally associated with the Bronze Age but may be later in date. This site was later reused as a ceallúnach.
Megalithic monuments
The most numerous megalithic monument type on the Iveragh peninsula is the gallán or single standing stone (over 120 on record). They are generally believed to belong to the same Bronze Age tradition as the stone rows, boulder burials and stone circles. Some may mark burials.
A total of 20 single standing stones are found within the study area, one of which is associated with a caher. Stone rows occur at Eightercua, Dereenauliff and Garrough. The row at Eightercua appears to be orientated to the setting sun at the winter solstice.
Stone pairs are located in the townlands of Coomnahorna East, Dereenafoyle and Dromlusk. One of the Dromlusk pair carries an ogham inscription. Such inscriptions provide the earliest recorded form of the Irish language. A second ogham stone is located at Derrynane Beg. This stone was found partly buried on Darrynane Beach and was erected in its present position by the Office of Public Works in the 1940s. It is a designated National Monument.
The only boulder burial found within the study area is located at Tullakeel, on the west side of the Ardsheelane river valley. Two examples of rock art are found in the adjacent field. The boulder burial, which consists of a block-like cover stone supported on three stones, is centrally positioned in a circle of upright stones and stones set on their edge.
IRON AGE (600 BCE to 400 CE)
Evidence of Iron Age activity is found in two ring barrows at Ardsheelane West and Dromlusk.
EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
The Early Medieval Period was an era of agricultural expansion and population growth, during which Christianity was introduced to Ireland. Society was tribal, rural, hierarchial and familiar.
The most common early medieval monuments are the ringforts or raths, which were earthen built farmsteads. Eight examples of this monument type have been identified within the study area, while another 15 sites have been identified as unclassified ringforts by the Archaeological Survey.
Stone built cahers number 30 in the study area. Some of these are likely to have housed farmsteads while others may have been used to house livestock or both. The largest and most famous of these is located at Staigue and is a designated National Monument (some reports state that it may be of Bronze Age). Such a prestigious site may have been home to the upper echelons of society. The lower orders may have occupied the smaller cahers and raths and the numerous hut sites (34 in total) found throughout the area.
Early ecclesiastical sites, some of which represent the earliest stratum of Irish monasticism form an important group of monuments. There are seven located within the area (Ankail, Ardkearagh, Baslickane, Infarrangleragh Glebe, Loher, Scarriff and Behaghane). These are small enclosed sites which may feature stone oratories, dwelling huts, cross-inscribed slabs, ogham stones, leachta or gable shrines.
LATE MEDIEVAL PERIOD
Evidence of the unsettled political situation at the end of twelfth century following the Anglo-Norman conquest, is found in the presence of two fortified tower houses – one in Behagahne (on the shore below Castlecove), the other at Ballycarnahan and a possible third site at Eightercua. This latter site is now sited below the water at the edge of Lough Currane.
The church system in Ireland had been re-structured on a diocesan and parochical system, as opposed to the monastic system of the earlier centuries, by the Late Medieval Period. The parish of Kilcrohane was established at this time. There are the remains of three Medieval churches found within the study area - at Abbey Island , Behaghane and Eightercua. Abbey Island and Behaghane both bear dedications to earlier saints i.e St Finan and St Crohane respectively.
Abbey Island Medieval Church is also known as Ahamore Abbey or Derrynane Abbey. The church is traditionally associated with St Finan but the present remains are those of an Augustinian Abbey. The site contains the family vault of the O'Connells of Derrynane House and the grave of the 18th century poet, Tomás Rua Ó Suilleabháin.
The church at Behaghane was the parish church for the medieval parish of Kilcrohane. It is also referred to as Coad Church and is traditionally dedicated to St Crohane. It is likely to have been constructed on the site of an early ecclesiastical site. The remains of an earlier rectangular building, designated ‘R.C. Chapel' on the OS maps, is found near the medieval building to the SW. Outside the NW corner of the graveyard is Toberavilla holy well, one of 3 wells visited in a turas to commemorate the feast day of St Crohane. In the graveyard is an upright cross-inscribed slab. The first literary reference to the medieval church is from 1302. It was in ruins by the middle of the 18 th century.
The church at Eightercua, known as Templenakilla, is located close to the Eightercua stone row. The church is in a very ruined state and the burial grounds are no longer evident.
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