Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a rise between a SSE-NNW stream c. 80m to the W and another SSE-NNW stream c. 160m to the NE. It is depicted as a D-shaped embanked enclosure (ext. diam. c. 40m N-S) truncated by a gravel pit on the E side and described as a ‘Moat’ on the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It was described (Smith 1894) as a clay bank ’12 feet (c. 3.65m) high’ on top of the gravel ridge, and animal bones and lenses of charcoal were observed in the section close to the top. A bone comb and an oval quartz stone with some markings were recovered at the base of this layer (D c. 0.9m). The comb was a composite double-sided comb with three surviving rivets of Class B (Dunleavy 1988, 353-6) dating from the third to the ninth century AD, and the earthwork was probably a platform rath. No trace of it is visible.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 21 August 2019

References

Dunleavy, M. 1988 A Classification of Early Irish Combs. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 88C, 11, 341-422.

Smith, O. 1894 Discovery of an ancient Bone Comb and Tracked Stone, in a prehistoric Mound, at Kilmessan, Co. Meath. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 24, 390-2.