Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the promontory of Dunbrattin Head. This is a grass-covered area of c. 6ha on a promontory cut off from the mainland by the remains of an E-W fosse (Wth at E 6.8m; ext. D 1.5m; int. D 1.45m; Wth at centre 7.7m; ext. D 0.45m; int. D 0.7m; L of fosse c. 105m). The entrance causeway (Wth 4m) is towards the E end. The fosse was defended on the inner side by an earthen bank (Wth 5.5m; int. H 1-1.5m; ext. H 3m) and there was evidence of three hut sites inside the bank (Westropp 1914-16, 222-4), none of which is now evident. Casey (2001, 133) noted possible internal divisions on the subsidiary headland to the NE of the S end of monument. A subsidiary promontory fort (WA025-069002-) is located internally at the W end of the main defences. An enclosure site (WA025-069003-) is immediately outside the fosse at W, and a possible enclosure (WA025-069001-) is inside the fosse at E.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore.

Date of upload: 12 January 2015.

References

Westropp, T.J. 1914-16 Fortified headlands and castles on the south coast of Munster: Part II, from Ardmore to Dunmore, Co. Waterford. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 32C, 188-227.

Westropp, T.J. 1906 Notes on certain promontory forts in the counties of Waterford and Wexford. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 36, 239-58.

Casey, M. 2001 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland: interim report for the Heritage Council. Unpublished specialist report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.