Field system

The National Monuments Service's description

The area known as Two Mile Stone is an extensive limestone ridge running SW-NE, on the edge of the drumlin belt in SW Donegal. The northern edge of the ridge is precipitous with some terracing but the southern slopes are less steep and it is on these and along the summit that the complex of archaeological sites is situated. Along the whole length of the ridge are the remains of old field walls, .2m-.3m in height. A section excavated by O. Davies in 1942 consisted of closely-piled stones considered by him to be merely a foundation for banks of sods or earth. Many of the sites on the ridge are linked to, or associated with, the field system. In addition to the features described below there are many sites considered by Davies to be either pens or folds. They consist of either stonelined hollows c. 3m-12m in diameter, and c. 10-50cms in depth, or artificially levelled areas surrounded by low banks. (Davies 1942, 98-105).

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: 3 November 2014

References

Davies, O. 1942 The Twomile stone, a prehistoric community in County Donegal. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 72, 98-105.