Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise, in gently undulating pasture, with good views in all directions. A ringfort (WM025-056----) lies c. 145m to NE and an enclosure (WM025-055----) lies c. 180m to WNW. Bivallate ringfort described as a roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 38m) enclosed by an inner bank, an intervening fosse and an outer bank. A causewayed entrance is located at ENE where there is a gap (Wth at top 5.8m; basal Wth 3.4m) in the inner bank, a causeway (Wth at top 2.2m; overall Wth 6.8m; max. H c. 1.2m) across the fosse and a gap (Wth at top 8.6m; basal Wth 6.7m) in the outer bank. The earth and stone inner bank is substantial and has definite traces of an internal stone facing. There are several disturbance gaps in the inner bank. A wide and waterlogged fosse is present from ENE-E-S-W-N which is absent from N-NE-ENE. There are the remains of an outer bank only visible from NW-N and from ENE-S-W. The fosse and outer bank are obscured by a modern field fence which flanks the base of the inner bank from N-NE-ENE. There are the remains of a stone facing on the N side of the inner gap and large stones scattered on the opposite side of the same gap. The interior rises gently from the perimeter to the centre and is featureless. Monument is visible as a roughly circular-shaped earthwork on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP AYR024) taken 11/07/1969.

Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien.

Date of upload: 11 September 2019

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com