Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 26.3m N-S, 28m E-W
Lisbane/Lios Bán: This circular univallate rath is located in rocky mountain pasture on the S slopes of Knocknadobar mountain. The enclosing bank is surrounded by an external fosse which measures 2.1m deep below external ground level at NE. Averaging 2m in basal width, a field boundary skirts its outer edge at S. The bank averages 2m high above the fosse, has a basal width of 3.4m and falls, on average, 1m to the rath's interior. Stone coursing, up to 1m high, revets the inner face of the bank, particularly at N and E. Some large slabs protrude from the base of the bank externally. The bank is gapped in a number of places, but none appears to represent the original entrance.

The interior of the rath slopes strongly down to S. Two possible huts, represented by poorly defined circular outlines of stone, each with internal diameters of 2.2m, occur in the S half. There is reputed to be a souterrain (KE070-019003-) in the rath (local information), but its exact location could not be ascertained.

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 534. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013