Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In tillage. Circular enclosure (diam. 28m) excavated 1989 by Ann-Marie Lennon in advance of partial destruction by Sandoz factory. Defined by low dump-construction bank (H 0.6m); U-shaped fosse (D 2.1m); bank spread covered by much of interior. Entrance to SSE with causeway; metalled surface through bank; re-cut paired postholes external to entrance. Interior partially excavated; remains of 11 structures recovered. Structures 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10 were circular (diams. 4.5m-5.6m) defined by earth-cut trenches (Wth 0.1m-0.4m; D 0.1m-0.27m) containing occassional post and stake settings. Structures 2 and 3 were contiguous, may have functioned as figure-of-eight structure. Structures 5, 6, 8 and probably 11 smaller, similar in construction, round or arc-shaped (diams. 2.4m-2.8m). Structure 1, early in sequence, subrectangular (L 6.5m; Wth 4.6m), paired posts just inside and outside S wall line. No evidence for hearths; at least two structural phases; structures 2 and 6 partly covered by charred destruction deposit. Three souterrains (CO087-102-, CO087-103-, CO087-104-) also present, cutting structures. Finds from site included animal and fish bone, shellfish, polished stone bead, fragments of shale bracelets, perforated hone stones and stone disc (Lennon forthcoming).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009