Enclosure in Carricknahorna West

In rough, upland karstic pasture, located on a terrace on the NW edge of a narrow N-S ravine. The ravine forms a passage linking broad boggy valleys to N and S. Immediately to SW of the enclosure, the ground rises abruptly to a rocky plateau on the SE slope of which, c. 160m to S, there is a cashel (SL040-154----). On the ridge top on the opposite side of the ravine there is a cairn (SL040-105----) c. 150m to SSE. A ruined, vernacular stone cottage is located c. 50m to NNW. Sub-circular area (diam. c. 22m N-S; 23m E-W) defined by remnants of a sod-covered stone bank/wall which coincides at N-E with the rocky edge of the ravine. The curving arc of the enclosing wall (Wth c. 1.5-2m; H 0.3m) can be easily traced at SE-W where is appears as a low moss-covered rise from which large stones protrude. At SW-W it is built against rising ground and as a consequence has a more pronounced internal slump (H 0.4m). The wall peters out at W-N, and is also difficult to trace at NNE-ESE where it coincides with the break of slope at the edge of the ravine, and is overlain by a later linear field wall. The interior of the enclosure is not noticeably raised, and is marked by a growth of rushes. The surface is occasionally broken by stones. The entrance is not clearly defined but is most likely to be at NW. Attached images: SL040-244----_01.JPG Enclosure viewed from ESE SL040-244----_01.JPG Enclosure viewed from SW SL040-244----_01.JPG Enclosure viewed from WSW SL040-244----_01.JPG Enclosing wall at W Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 12 May 2011