Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

This enclosure was discovered in the course of archaeological investigations undertaken in advance of the construction of the M6 motorway and the following account is derived from the published report (Mullins 2014). Situated immediately north-east of the ringfort (GA086-211----) the enclosure, c. 40m in diameter, was defined by a circular fosse, 3m wide and 1.2m deep. There were vestigial remains of a low earth bank inside the fosse. The entrance was probably in the south. The fosse had become filled with soil and stones and a charcoal sample from the fosse fill was dated to AD 1020-1180 (Wk-22641). Finds from the fosse include a penannular brooch, a yellow glass bead, an iron knife blade and worked bone fragments including several bone comb pieces. Food waste from the fosse (including grain, bones of cattle, sheep, pig with smaller numbers of horse, deer, dog and wild goose) suggests a mixed farming economy with access to a wide range of resources. This enclosure has been interpreted (Mullins 2014, 112) as an annex to the bivallate ringfort (GA086-211----). Two human burials of children were discovered. The remains of a child of about 12 years were found in the fosse and yielded a date of AD 1020-1200 (Beta-241480). The remains of another child, aged 4-6 years, were found near the centre of this enclosure and dated to AD 990-1160 (Beta-241479). It is suggested (Mullins 2014, 112) that the enclosure had already gone out of use by the time these burials took place.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 11 November 2015

References

Mullins, G. 2014 A hillfort, ringforts and field system at Rahally. In McKeon,J. and O'Sullivan, J. (eds) The quite landscape. Archaeological investigations on the M6 Galway to Ballinasloe national road scheme. Dublin. National Roads Authority.