Field system

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on gentle S and SW-facing slopes amid rock outcrops; there are several large natural hollows in the area. A field system covering an area c. 600m NW-SE x c. 350m NE-SW is overlain by a modern rectilinear grid of fields on a NE-SW axis. The older field system is comprised of rectangular, D-shaped or irregular fields enclosed by stone walls or stone-faced scarps. The walls are constructed of a rubble core faced with contiguous stones but most survive as low sod-covered rises or as irregular gapped lines of stones. The fields in general respect or utilise the natural contours and terraces in the area. Linear seams and scarps of limestone, many on a NW-SE axis, are incorporated into the field boundaries. A cashel (SL038-110001-) and two hut sites (SL038-110002-; SL038-110007-) lie within the SE part of the field system. Roughly in the centre of the system is a complex of monuments including a souterrain (SL038-110004-), a possible souterrain (SL038-110003-), a cashel (SL038-110010-), two enclosures (SL038-110012-; SL038-110017-), a rectangular enclosure (SL038-110014-), a circular enclosure (SL038-110009-) and four hut sites (SL038-110006-; SL038-110008-; SL038-110011-; SL038-110013-). Also within the field system are the remains of several rectangular houses of unknown date, one (15m NW-SE; 3m NE-SW) of which is divided into three compartments with the largest compartment (7m NW-SE) in the centre (SL038-110006-).

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