Concentric enclosure in Mulhussey

Located on a fairly level low-lying landscape. In 1970 (SMR file) this was a raised and circular grass-covered area (diam. 30m NNW-SSE; 28m NE-SW) defined by the lip of an earthen bank (at NNW: Wth of base 11.5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 3.1m) largely reduced to an external scarp (at SSE: Wth 4m; H 2.1m) that is separated by a fosse (Wth of top 7.5-12m; Wth of base 2m; ext. D 0.6m at SSE to 1.9m at NNW) from a slight counterscarp bank (at NNW: Wth of base 5.8m; ext. H 0.2m) that only survives NW-N. This is separated by a berm (at NNW: Wth 14.5) from an earthen bank (at NNW: Wth of base 6m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1m) that is separated by a fosse (at NNW: Wth of top 9m; Wth of base 1m; ext. D 0.7m) from a levelled outer bank (at NNW: Wth of base 10m; Wth of top 4m; ext. H 0.5m) that only survived in 1970 WNW-E-SE but this perimeter could be incorporated into a curved farm lane and field banks SW-WNW. All the banks were covered in bushes in 1970 and there was an entrance through the inner (Wth of base 2m) bank and a causeway (Wth of top 10m; H 0.5m) at NNE. On the other side of the berm there is a gap in the middle (Wth 4m) and outer banks (Wth 2m) at N. Relict field banks and drains connected the outer enclosure with the inner at ESE, WSW and WNW. In the interior of the inner enclosure there was a sunken area (L 6.5m; Wth 1.5m; D 0.3m) N-S with a spur (L 6.3m; Wth 1.5m; D 0.4m) extending NE from its N end, which could be a Man-made underground passage except that the spoil on the E side formed a grass-covered bank (Wth 3m; H 0.5m). The visible profile had largely been removed by 1995, although the vegetation mark is visible on some aerial images (OSAP, 1995, 2005; Digital Globe c. 2013). The vegetation mark is also visible on Google Earth (24/03/2012). 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 Moroe Date of revision: 27 August 2019

A local fairy fort (ringfort/rath); wider significance not recorded.