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Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Altnapaste

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

Altnapaste holds a broken earthen ring where a tall platform still rises above wet pasture. The surviving bank is low, but the wide flat centre remains visible, suggesting a substantial building or defensive work has since collapsed. Local tradition calls it a fairy fort, which may reflect admiration for its unusual shape rather than belief in occupancy.
Internal diam. 23.5m. A subcircular apparently artificially raised platform, 4m above the surrounding land, is now only partially enclosed by a surviving arc of earthen bank .35m high. It is situated in rough, wet pasture with good views. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

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What survives
Recorded monument

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