Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on Roughan Hill on the E edge of the Burren. Survey and excavation in this area (Jones et al. 2011, 33-58) have revealed a prehistoric landscape comprising farms, cairns and megalithic tombs lying within a contemporary field system (c. 2.5km N-S, c. 1.5km E-W) comprising many sections of prehistoric mound wall (CL016-172----). Four such farms are clustered on Roughan Hill within 200m of each other (see CL016-173----, CL016-174----, CL016-175----/CL016-176----).This record is for an oval enclosure (dims. c. 40m NE-SW; c. 20m NW-SE) defined by walls of very large slabs set on edge. A larger enclosure (CL016-173----) is conjoined at E. Limited excavation in 1995 produced domestic artefact assemblages and radiocarbon dates from animal bone refuse that place the occupation of this farm in the Beaker period and Early Bronze Age (ibid., 38-9). (Jones 2008, 42-53)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 20 April 2016

References

Jones, C., Carey, O. and Hennigar, C. 2011 Domestic production and the political economy in prehistory: evidence from the Burren, Co. Clare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 111C, 33-58.

Jones, C. 2008 Roughan Hill prehistoric landscape. In Comber, M. and Jones, C. (compilers) Burren landscape and settlement. An Irish National Strategic Archaeolgical Research (INSTAR) project. The Heritage Council.