Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on the E-facing precipice of a S-facing slope, overlooking the valley of the Owbeg River. A circular area (30m E-W; 29.4m N-S) defined by an earthen bank, an intervening fosse and traces of a possible outer bank. The inner bank (Wth 8.6m; int. H 3.1m; ext. H 3.1m) is visible W-ESE and evident intermittently (Wth 9m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 3m) ESE-W. There are cattle-breaks at N and S. The fosse is well defined (D 2m) along the N arc where the rath is cut into the upslope. There is a shallow fosse on the S downslope which is infilled with slippage from the inner bank. A boulder (1.1m NE-SW; 1m NW-SE; T 0.5m) (KE085-007002-) incised mainly with straight lines (L c. 0.15-0.4m; Wth c. 1cm; D c. 0.5cm) probably made by a sharp metal tool, lies in the fosse at NW. Stone facing is visible on the external face of the fosse NNW-SSE. Slight traces of an outer bank are evident along the N arc. The S portion of the interior is raised and the N portion is cut into the upslope to compensate for the hillslope. Several hazel trees grow in the interior. There is a souterrain (KE085-007001-) in this rath.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 May 2011