Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 24m N-S, 26.2m E-W
This circular univallate rath with a souterrain is located on elevated pasture on the E slopes of Gortamullin hill, overlooking the valley of the Finnihy river to E and S. The earthen enclosing bank reaches a maximum external height of 4m at E, and is on average 1m high internally and 1.6m wide at base. The overgrown external fosse measures 1m deep below surrounding ground level and its flat-bottomed base is 2m wide. A causeway crosses the fosse at SE and a corresponding gap in the bank, 2.9m wide, marks the location of the original entrance. A 2m wide break in the bank at W appears to be secondary.

An L-shaped drystone-built souterrain (KE093-010001-) is located in the W part of the interior of the rath. The present opening, 1.95m x .75m, is situated 9m W of the inner face of the bank and gives access to a point 1.6m from the NE end of a 1.2m high passage. The SW side of the passage is blocked by collapse and its NE end features a low, inaccessible creepway. Beyond the creepway a second passage appears to run to NW for a distance of 6.7m, evidenced by a series of earth-embedded lintels on the surface.

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. 518. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013