Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In improved pasture, utilising a natural precipice with overlooks a small valley to the E. The natural slope of the precipice continues to run southward beyond the southern limit of the monument. A moated site is located within the NW angle (TS058-080----) and an enclosure (TS058-080001-) at the N end appears to be built over the line of the N enclosing elements. This large oval enclosure (overall diam. 103m N-S; 55.5m E-W; narrowing to 14m E-W in the S) is visible on an aerial photograph (ASIAP(303) 3-4, 13.09.2002) and is clearly defined from N-E-SE by a curvilinear scarp (Wth 3.5m; H 0.75m); curvilinear berm (Wth 5.25m; H 0.6m) and natural counter scarp (Wth 13m; H 3.2m) which utilises the natural precipice slope; in the S it is defined by a low scarp (Wth 2m; H 0.15m) and in the W by the remains of a levelled bank (overall Wth 5.75m; basal Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.05m). Apart from the moated site, the interior has several sub-divisions. In the NE angle, immediately E of the moated site, there is a D-shaped area (dims. 26m N-S; 23.5m E-W) which is divided from the rest of the interior to the S by a levelled linear scarp (long axis E-W) (L 8m) and fosse (Wth 4.75m; D 0.18m). The main portion of the interior is divided into two areas. That immediately S of the moated site consists of a large rectangular area (dims. 57m N-S; 44m E-W) defined by a steep scarp (Wth 5.5m; H 1.7m) to the E and low scarp (Wth 2m; H 0.15m) to the S and W. The interior slopes eastward and is slightly raised in the N sector; a field boundary, running ENE-WSW, truncates the interior off-centre to S. Another rectangular area (dims. 20m N-S; 14m E-W) adjoins to the S and is defined by levelled scarp (Wth 1.75m; H 0.2m) to N, its interior has a gentle S-facing slope.
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011