Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Promontory fort - coastal
Townparks (Ballyshannon ED), County Donegal, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Townparks (Ballyshannon ED)
- County
- Donegal
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Dungravenen
- Coordinates
- 54.50275, -8.20233
- SMR number
- DG107-052001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid 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)
- 1904 · Sheet 4. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1922 · Ireland - northern section. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Dungravenen, a very spectacular promontory fort isolated by an earthen bank and rock-cut fosse. A causeway crosses the fosse indicating the probable location of the entrance. The interior is fairly level except for a horseshoe-shaped mound (DG107-052002-) with a surrounding ditch to the S of the causeway entrance. There are traces of a low earthen bank around the internal perimeter. Inside the fort is a rock-cut souterrain (DG107-052003-) open in three places to the E, N and S. Only the latter opening affords an entry. It is .47m deep and leads to a N-S running passage 4.06m long, .75m high and 1.2m wide. This widens to 1.32m and 0.88m high at its N end to lead to a central area. This is 1.4m high, 3.7m W-E and 1.5m N-S. Part of the N wall of this chamber is of masonry and contains a small wall cupboard, .3m long .4m high and 0.54m deep. At the E is a low stone 'bench' or slab .83m × 0.33m resting .15m above the floor on two stone supports. Behind this is the blocked up E chamber/passage which viewed from the E surface opening is at least 3.7m long and 1.7m wide. To the W of the central chamber is a rock-cut-opening 1.53m wide and 0.89m high which leads to a chamber 1m high and 3.9m long. A doorway comprising of a lintel resting on a portal stone to the E, and masonry to the W forms the entry to the N passage/chamber which is 1.98m long, .8m wide and 0.68m in height. There is an opening to the surface at the N end of this. All the chambers and passage are roofed with flagstones. This promontory fort is located on the N side of the Erne estuary close to the town of Ballyshannon.
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 revision : 15 May 2009
Nearby in the register
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Barrow - ring-barrowunder 1 mi
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Middenunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.