Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In upland pasture, at a break of slope on the steep NW side of a ridge in the Bricklieve Mountains. The rath lies within a field system (SL040-063001-). It consists of an oval platform (48m NE-SW; 53.5m NW-SE) defined NE-S by an earthen bank (Wth 4m; ext. H 1.6m) with a low internal lip (int. H 0.4m) and elsewhere by a well defined scarp (H 1.6m). A shallow external fosse (Wth 3m; D 0.6m) is evident all round. A degraded counterscarp bank (Wth c. 2m; ext. H 0.2m) is evident W-SE. A NW-SE field boundary wall truncates the counterscarp bank and the outer edge of the fosse SW-W. The centre of the interior appears slightly domed in profile and traces of cultivation ridges are evident in the NE quadrant. Close to the scarp at S is a small circular depression (3m E-W; 2m N-S; D 0.5m) marked by thistles. A deeper linear pit (9m NE-SW; 2-3m NW-SE; D 1m) cuts through the top of the scarp at SW and extends into the interior. Some quarrying of the scarp face has occurred NNW-NE. There are several breaks in the bank and the scarp due to erosion by farm stock. A possible entrance (Wth 2.3m) is at ENE with a ramp-like slope to an infilled section of the fosse and a corresponding break (Wth 4m) in the counterscarp bank. A possible rath (SL040-233----) lies c. 16m to SE.

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