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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Hilltop enclosure

Lisfannan (Fahan ED), County Donegal, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Hilltop enclosure, Lisfannan, County Donegal, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Townland
Lisfannan (Fahan ED)
County
Donegal
Country
Ireland
First-edition OS map
Fort
Latest-edition OS map
Not indicated
Coordinates
55.10201, -7.45945
SMR number
DG038-001001-

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1881 map "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1881 · Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1900 · Ireland (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1904 · Sheet 1. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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The National Monuments Service's description

Indicated on the 1836 OS 6-inch map as a circular enclosure, named 'Fort'; not shown on the 1905 edition. Internal diam. c. 70m N-S × c. 30m E-W. Caiseal Na Bearnan (Caiseal of the gaps) an irregular-shaped area enclosed on all except its E side, where it is unnecessary due to a cliff edge, by a collapsed stone wall. At the SE end of the enclosure several subcircular structures (DG038-001002-) have been reported (Boyle-Somerville 1929, 164) but these were not observed on this occasion. Two large orthostats at the S end might indicate the entrance. The suggestion of an entrance by Boyle-Somerville at the N end does not seem likely. It is situated on a precipitous N-S ridge in mountainous terrain. There is a holy well (DG038-002----) and a cairn (DG038-002001-) in the gap between the ridges immediately to NE.

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 22 September 2008

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Sites and Monuments Record data: National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Record text is reproduced unchanged. National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland · CC BY 4.0
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