Black Fort

Located toward the bottom of a SW-facing slope. This is a subcircular grass and scrub-covered area (37.5m NW-SE; 33m NE-SW) that is bisected by a NNE-SSW field bank and the features barely survive on the W side of this. It is defined by an overgrown earthen bank (at SE: Wth at base 3m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1.1m) that is reduced to a scarp (at NW: Wth 3m; H 0.6m) SSW-N-NNE. The inner bank is separated by an external fosse (at SE: Wth of top 4m; Wth of base 2.5m; ext. D 1m) from an outer bank (at SE: Wth of base 4.5m; ext. H 0.5m) NNE-S-SSW. The fosse is reduced to a berm (at NW: Wth 5m) and the outer bank to a broad rise (Wth 8m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.4m) SSW-N-NNE. There is a ramp entrance (Wth of base 2m) through the inner bank at SE, and there are traces of a third outer bank (at SE: Wth 5m; H 0.1-0.3m) NE-S-SSW. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 3 September 2018 Amended: 14/12/2022