Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On an E-facing slope in grassland. When initially visited by the Survey in September 1982, these conjoined raths (GA113-013---) and GA113-013002-) were poorly preserved. Field walls cut through the enclosing elements from NE to SE and from W to WSW. The N rath, irregular in plan (41m E-W; 33m N-S), was defined by a bank of earth and stone, overlain by a later field wall, from NW through N to NE. Traces of the bank were also visible at SE, and at SSE it was overlain by the bank of S rath. Within the interior was a low earthen mound, aligned E-W, and a souterrain (GA113-013001-). To S of the mound were three small cairns; probably field-clearance rubble. The S rath, subcircular in plan (28.5m E-W; 24.5m N-S), was also defined by a bank of earth and stone. Stone-facing was visible at NNE. Gaps at ESE and NW appeared to be modern. Within the interior was another low earthen mound, aligned NW-SE, at NW end of which was a blocked-up souterrain (GA113-013003-). Development work in 1984 resulted in the destruction of most of the S rath and a barn now occupies the W half of its interior. Another possible souterrain (GA113-013004-) lies c. 45.5m to S. (McCaffrey 1952 262, no. 43)

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 14 October 2016

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 6/1984).

References

McCaffrey, P. 1952 A contribution to the archaeology of the barony of Dunkellin, Co. Galway. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.