Ringfort - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on top of a small ridge. It overlooks another rath (MA039-073) which is located 100m to E, at the base of the E slope of the ridge.
Raised circular platform (diam. 28.5m E–W; 31.3m N–S) defined by an earthen bank with a steep external slope, which drops into an encircling fosse with remnants of a bank or counterscarp on its outer edge. A broad, flat gap (Wth c. 10m) intervenes between this and a third or outermost bank.
The inner bank (Wth 6m; int. H 0.3-0.4m; ext. H 1.8-2m, 2.6m at E) has a very low stony internal rim, topped with a scatter of small stones, and there is stone tumble on the steep external slope.
The fosse (Wth 5-5.5m) can be traced as a broad shallow depression at SSE–N, retaining a low stony bank/counterscarp (Wth 2.2m; int. H 0.5-0.8m; ext. H 0.3m) on its outer edge at SW–NW. The outermost bank (4.8m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.9m, 3m at E) can be trace for almost the full circuit, although it has been greatly modified. It is best preserved at WSW–NW (Wth 4.8m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.9m) where it has a substantial external slope and a low internal slump. At N–SE it retains only a low internal rim, but the pronounced external scarp (ext. H c. 3m) is enhanced by the natural ridge slope. A section at SE–SSE has been entirely levelled to merge with the natural slope. At S–SW it has also been levelled, but can still be traced as a low scarp, and the SW arc is incorporated into a field boundary. The intervening berm-like gap (Wth c. 8-10m) between it and the fosse/counterscarp is broad and flat, and appears to be at a higher level than exterior ground level.
A possible location for the original entrance is at the SE of the central platform, where there is a gap (Wth 2.8m) in the scarp, very roughly flanked by some large stones. A line of small stones protrudes from the sod across the inner edge of the gap. There is a low area (Wth 4m), possible gap in the outer bank at NW, largely obscured by overgrowth.
The interior has a very slight slope down to SE, with a stone-scattered surface. Shallow surface depressions located close to the inner edge of the bank at S–SW may indicate the location of a souterrain (MA039-074002-). Slightly S of centre, there is a low, roughly circular concentration (diam. c. 3m) of stones around the base of two hazel trees. This may be the possible cairn (MA074003-) noted by Aldridge in 1953. There is no trace of an inscribed stone (MA039-074004-), found by Aldridge in the centre of the rath.
A later field boundary extends E–W across the rath, to S of centre. There is a large heap of earthen material, largely obscured by brambles, in the gap/berm between fosse and outer bank at NW. Two large slabs lie at the edge of the fosse at N. The perimeter and interior are covered with hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn and clumps of brambles, with carpet of buttercups and bluebells beneath.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 1 April 2020