Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 18m N-S
Lisduff/An Lios Dubh: This univallate rath is situated on the E bank of the Garfinny river, and flooding by this river has led to the disappearance of much of the W half of the site which was originally circular (OSNB Garfinny, 25). This W sector is now defined by a fall of 2.2m from the interior to the narrow flood plain of the river. The remainder of the site is enclosed by a single earthen bank and fosse, with a later field wall surmounting the outer edge of the fosse along the S sector. The fosse is c. 4m wide at base and c. 1.5m deep. The bank is 1.4m high internally, 3.9m high externally and 5 to 6.5m wide at base. The S facing entrance consists of a 1.5m wide gap through the bank and a causeway across the corresponding section of the fosse. The entrance gap is flanked externally by 2 large boulders set into the outer-face of the bank, and a 3rd boulder lies prostrate in the gap. Another large, flat boulder forms the S end of the causeway.
The oval structure KE043-237002- shown on the 2nd edition of the OS map is now reduced to an oval spread of collapse, measuring 5.8m x c. 4m, which abuts the inner edge of the bank at SE. This section of bank is faced internally with stepped facing up to 1.5m high and 1.7m wide. A hollow in the ground immediately N of this is faced on 2 adjacent sides with drystone masonry and may be the remains of a souterrain KE043-237001-.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 417. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013