Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, crowning the top of a hill in the W foothills of the Bricklieve Mountains. A large broadly oval enclosure (c. 62m N-S; 55m E-W) straddling a break of slope on the NE side of the hilltop. The interior is divided S of centre by a field boundary with a drain on its N side. To S of the field boundary the interior is defined E-SW by a low earthen bank (Wth 1.5m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 0.65m) with a vertical external slope and a low internal lip resembling field boundaries in the vicinity and probably a modification of the original enclosing element. The bank is poorly preserved E-S. To N of the field boundary the enclosing element has been levelled but the outline is still evident WSW-ENE as a curving undulation. It is evident WSW-N as a partially levelled scarp (H 0.5m), reduced N-ENE to a slight undulation, and visible NE-E as a broad scarp (H c. 1m) merging with the natural slope. At the base of the scarp N-E is a shallow fosse-like depression (Wth 1.5m) cut into the hillslope. This appears to be the remains of a field boundary that skirted the E side of the enclosure. Two field boundaries shown on the 1914 OS 6-inch map intersecting at the N edge of the rath have been removed. The interior is generally level but the E half slopes gently down to E. Faint cultivation ridges are visible crossing the interior, on an E-W axis to N of the field boundary and on NE-SW axis to S of the boundary. There is a hut site (SL040-027002-) in the SE quadrant.

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