What is recorded here

Ten thousand years of rain and hoofprints have not erased the twin rings at Drumsawry. The inner fort still stands twenty-eight centimetres high beside its stone-lined gate, while the larger crescent enclosure sweeps around it like a forgotten neighbour. People may have quarried the shallow hollow near the centre or simply watched the valley through the southeast opening. The earth remembers more than human certainty, but it no longer explains itself.

Situated on a hillock in the N foothills of the Slieve na Calliagh ridge. This is a circular, domed (H 1-2m) and grass-covered area (diam. 47.5m NE-SW; 45m NW-SE) defined by a grass-covered earthen bank (at SE: Wth of base 3.5m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 2.8m) that can be distinguished from its fosse but is frequently reduced to a scarp (at NW: H 3.5m) NW-E-SE. This is separated by a fosse (Wth of top 4m; Wth of base 2-3m; ext. D 1.4-1.7m) from an outer earthen bank (Wth of base 6-9m; ext. H 1.2m at NW to 2.4m at SE). There is a stone-lined entrance through the inner (Wth of base 2.55m) bank and a stone-lined entrance (Wth of base 3.2) through the outer bank at SE, with a causeway (Wth of top 3.6m; H 0.65m) across the fosse (max. ext. diam. 80m). It has been described as a possible ringwork castle (Sweetman1999, 4). Just NE of the centre there is a grass-covered hollow (int. dims 9.4m NW-SE; 6m NE-SW; D 0.6-1.2m) with an entrance (Wth of base 0.75m) at SE, which is probably a quarry. The rath has a crescent-shaped enclosure attached to the SW, which is probably a pre-existing large enclosure (ME009-057001-). This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. c. 100m NE-SW) that is defined by a scarp (at NW: Wth 2m; H 1m) that can be traced visibly SSW-W-NE but the perimeter meets the outer bank of the rath at NE and is absent SE-S. 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: 1 November 2018 Amended: 15 December 2022

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