Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated N of the Nenagh River on a slight S-facing slope in pasture on formerly quite wet ground. A circular area (diam. 25.6m N-S; 27.6m E-W) defined by a scarp (H 0.64m), a fosse (Wth 4m; D 0.4m), a bank (Wth 3.6m; ext. H 0.4m), a fosse (Wth 3.7m; D 1.17m), a bank (Wth 4.8m; ext. H c. 1.2m) and an external fosse (Wth 6m; ext. H 0.17m). Gaps occur in the NW and SE quadrants. The external face of the outer bank has been recently truncated while clearing vegetation. The site was excavated over two seasons in 1990 and 1991 (O'Sullivan 1991, 50-51; O'Sullivan 1992, 42). This investigation showed that the site was originally univallate consisting of a bank and external fosse. This bank was subsequently thrown into the fosse and new ramparts, consisting of a bank, fosse, outer bank and outer fosse, were constructed outside the original fosse. The NW entrance had a layer of cobbling which overlaid the original fosse fill. No internal structures came to light and finds consisted of two iron knives, two whetstones and bone fragments bearing decorative Early Christian patterns associated with the later phase of activity on the site.

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008