Caherlehillan Early Christian Site

This site is located at the mouth of a valley on the lower W slopes of Mullaghnarakill mountain. Situated on a fairly level terrace on the N side of the valley, it commands extensive views to W. Running below it, to S, is a tributary of the Ferta river. The site is currently being excavated as part of UCC's undergraduate training programme (Sheehan 1994a, 41-2). The following report describes the features and structures that were visible before excavation.

The original enclosing element survives only from E through to SW, where it barely rises above the internal ground level of the site. It is a rubble-built wall with an outer facing of large, horizontally laid slabs. It averages 1.8m wide and 1m high externally. The remains of an entrance feature survive at E and consist of two slabs, 1.35m apart, set at right angles to the line of the enclosing wall. Elsewhere, modern field walls and a laneway flank the site at N, NE and W. The enclosed area presently measures 20.6m N-S x 30m E-W, though a short, low stretch of a tree-lined bank, located on the N side of the laneway, may represent the limits of the site here.

The NE quadrant is raised above the remainder of the site and is largely occupied with uninscribed upright slabs. It is locally known as a ceallúnach, and children were buried here up to the early twentieth century. Two cross-slabs and an unusual shrine occur in the SE portion of this area.

Shrine (KE070-043003-): This poorly preserved feature consists of a rectangular mound, 2.9m N-S x 1.9m E-W, which is retained by upright slabs set on edge. A number of these slabs are missing or buried, particularly at N, while the remainder tend to incline outward. Low pillars occur at the SE, SW and NW corners of the structure. The mound is largely composed of stone, including some quartz and its upper surface appears to be paved with slabs. It appears to be a variant type of corner-post shrine.

Cross-Slabs: (1) (KE070-043002-) This narrow slab stands just outside the NW angle of the shrine. It is 1.15m high and tapers toward its base from a maximum width of .27m. Its top edge is divided by a deep notch. On its W face is a linear latin cross with outwardly disposed C-scroll terminals. Beneath this is a roundel containing four similarly disposed C-scroll motifs.

(2) (KE070-043004-) Standing just to S of (1), this slab is .75m high and .23m wide at the top, broadening gradually to a maximum width of .45m near its base. On its W face is an encircled Maltese cross. Its centre is separated from the arms by grooves and it features a small central dot. Pendant from the encircled cross is a grooved stem, divided midway by a lozenge-shaped expansion and ending in a small triangular expansion. Below this, on either side, are two S-shaped motifs, on edge, while a stylised bird is outlined in profile above.

(3) (KE070-043005-) A fragment of a third cross-slab was noted at the site (Macalister 1939b, 21), but its present location is unknown. A photograph, apparently taken during the 1950s, clearly indicates that this slab featured a Maltese cross or a cross of arcs (information: P. Harbison).