Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Located at Scotch Point and above Broad Bay in the NW corner of the Island with extensive views of the North County Dublin coastline. The ground falls to the W. The promontory fort is created by a low broad counterscarp bank which runs across the narrow neck of the headland (L 43m, Wth 13.50, H 1.20m) cutting off the S approach at the neck of the promontory. This bank is best preserved in the E but spreads with the falling ground in the W. There is an external ditch (Wth 8.40m, D 0.55m). Sandstone outcrops along the N perimeter of the headland. There is a landing place in the NE end of the headland. Geophysical survey (Licence no. 03R0074) undertaken either side of the single bank and ditch cutting off the southern approach identified two ring barrows externally, one visible as a low level surface feature (DU009-001014-) and circular structures within (Cooney 2009, 21). Further geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R078) of the promontory was carried out by The Discovery Programme for the LIARI Project which confirmed the presence of previously identified internal circular anomalies (Dowling 2014).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 31 December 2014

References

Cooney, G. 2009, The prehistory of Lambay, a long view. In Baker, C. (ed.) Axes, Warriors and Windmills: Recent archaeological discoveries in north Fingal. Fingal County Council.9-22.

Dowling G. 2014b, Geophysical survey at Lambay, north Co. Dublin (Licence no. 12R078). Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.