Earthwork

The National Monuments Service's description

In undulating pasture. An oval flat-topped knoll (c. 60m NE-SW; c. 80m NW-SE; H c. 6m) with a terraced profile. The terracing appears to be natural, determined to some extent by rock outcrops. The knoll is an extension of a broader ridge that stretches to NW and it projects from the ridge into an expanse of flat, poorly drained ground. The flat top (29m NW-SE; 10m NE-SW) is defined by a natural limestone scarp (H 2m). From this platform, the knoll drops in a series of terraces to the base. The terraces are narrow (Wth 6m) at NE and SW but expand to 16m at SE side. A small roughly circular sod-covered stony rise (diam. 10m) is evident on the broad lower terrace (16m NW-SE) at SE. A flat-topped spine (Wth 4.5m NE-SW) of elevated ground extending for 21m to NW from the NW end of the knoll, forms a causeway-like link to the higher main ridge. It appears to be naturally raised but with sides (H 0.7-1.2m) that may be artificially scarped. A scarp along the base of the knoll SE-W may be recent and associated with remnants of a field boundary wall that skirts the knoll. Kingstown well (SL040-138----) lies c. 100m to E.

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