Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying, level pasture. This trivallate ringfort is defined by a raised circular platform (diam. c. 36m; H 1m) that is surrounded by two banks and three fosses. The innermost fosse (Wth 5.2m) is flat bottomed, while the other two (Wth 2.5m; and Wth 2m; D 1m respectively) are U shaped. The banks (Wth 4.8m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 1.3m and Wth 4.8m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.5m respectively) are made up of earth and stone. The outermost fosse was probably recut as a field drain. A wide gap (Wth c. 6m) at SE may mark the original entrance. A report in 1976 (SMR file) noted a possible fourth bank but suggested it might be the remains of a later field boundary enclosing the monument. De Paor carried out an excavation here in 1967 (McDonald 1971, 131-3; Coleman 2014, 28). A considerable number of post-holes, which did not form any recognisable pattern, were noted within the interior. Finds included large quantities of iron slag, some small iron objects such as knives, a fragmented quernstone, a portion of a loy and a small quantity of animal bones.

Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan

Updated by: Paul Walsh

Revised date of upload: 21 January 2015

References

McDonald, M. 1971 The Breany ringfort - typical or non-typical? Journal of the Longford Historical Society 1(2), 131-3.

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 Unpublished thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Archaeological Excavation, Department of Archaeology, University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.