Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In a thicket of overgrowth at the S end of a pasture field, located on a fold in sharply undulating terrain. Overlooked immediately to SW by the steeply rising slope of a ridge.
Substantially raised, circular platform (c. 37.7m NNW–SSE) defined by a scarp, topped with a stony internal rim, and enclosed by a fosse with remnants of an external bank.
The pronounced enclosing scarp (ext. H 1.75m at SSW, 1.8m at NNE) has a low internal rim (W 2–3m; int. H 0.3-0.4m) of earth and stone, giving an overall width of the scarp/bank of 6–6.5m. At ESE–S it is topped by a low jumble (Wth 2-2.5m) of stones, set 1.5-2m in from the top edge of the scarp; this appears to be the remnants of a later field. The fosse (Wth c. 3m) can be traced as a shallow depression for much of the circuit, but is not evident at NE−ESE; at SE–S it is filled with heaps of loose stones/field clearance debris.
Remnants of the external bank (Wth c. 2-2.5m; int. 0.45m; ext. H 0.4m, at N) can be traced at N and SE; it cannot be traced at NE–ESE. At S–NNW there is a later field fence at the outer edge of the fosse, which may preserve the original curve of the external bank.
The entrance is at the NE where there is a gap (Wth 2m) in the inner scarp/bank, faced with a low stone kerb on its W terminal and blocked with field clearance debris at its outer edge.
The rath interior is level, the surface largely denuded of sod due to the dense canopy of overgrowth. In the SW quadrant there is a low, linear heap (8m NE–SW; 3m NW–SE) of earth and stone, partly moss-covered, probably a field clearance heap; a fragment of a quern stone (max. dim. 0.29m; radius 0.19m central perforation to outer edge), including part of the central perforation (diam. 7cm; D 5cm), was noted amongst the loose stones. Dense blackthorn and brambles engulfs the rath interior; hazel and hawthorn trees ring the perimeter.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 20 December 2021