Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In flat wet rough grazing. Indicated as an embanked circular area (diam. c. 40m) on the 1838 OS 6-inch map and as a roughly circular raised area on the 1913 OS 6-inch map. A large steep-sided subcircular mound or natural knoll (c. 50m NW-SE; c. 45-50m; H 4-5m) with a flat oval top (c. 20m NW-SE; c. 10m NE-SW) is now evident. However, extensive quarrying of the NW-SE slopes of the knoll has obliterated its original form. On the W side the knoll has a terraced profile. From the level top there is a gentle slope (H 1.3m) that levels out to a terrace (Wth 3.7m) defined at outer edge by a scarp (H 1m). Stones protrude from the scarp in parts. The scarp drops to another gently sloping terrace (Wth 3.4m) from which there is a fall of 1.75m to the base of the knoll. The base of the knoll is scarped to a vertical face (H 0.9m) but this appears to be a relatively recent feature. To S there is a shallow depression (Wth 2.7m) at the base of the knoll, defined on its outer edge by a slight rise in ground level. It may represent a fosse or a drain but cannot be traced elsewhere. A hut site (SL021-117----) is located on a low elevation c. 30m to W.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008