Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

At the SE end of a low NE-SW ridge in pasture. A report in 1976 (SMR file) indicated that this raised oval area (c. 60m N-S; c. 50m E-W) was defined by a low bank of earth and stone with an external fosse. It is defined by a scarp (H 0.3-1.2m), which has been altered slightly and incorporated into a field boundary from SW-W-NW. The original entrance is not recognisable. Archaeological excavations were undertaken at the site during the summer of 1967 by Liam de Paor. An assessment of the excavation record (Coleman 2014) noted that ‘The artefacts, structures and industrial evidence recovered during the excavation of Back of the Hill suggest that the enclosure is an early medieval settlement site likely to have been inhabited by a high status group. The excavation produced a number of copper alloy objects of high quality, notably a zoomorphic penannular brooch, a buckle and a copper alloy toilet implement. . . The northern half of the site produced key evidence of occupation, with up to four possible structures identified. . . . The features identified during the excavation and the finds that were recovered determine that the activity earned out at Back of the Hill included food production, textile working, metalworking and woodworking. Human occupation was restricted to the northern half of the site, with the southern half likely to have been used for the enclosing of small animals. The excavation revealed a number of phases of activity at the site, with the primary phase of occupation dating to the early medieval period. Evidence of later activity at the site, such as modem cultivation and drainage was also identified.’ (ibid., 60).

Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan

Updated by: Paul Walsh

Revised date of upload: 21 January 2015

References

Fanning, T. 1994 Viking Age ringed pins from Dublin. National Museum of Ireland, medieval Dublin excavations 1962-81, Ser. B, vol. 4. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Coleman, A.E. 2014 A write-up of Liam de Paor's excavations of the early medieval enclosure at Back of the Hill, Co. Longford, 1967. Unpublished thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Archaeological Excavation, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork.