What is recorded here

Harristown’s hidden ringfort is a lost circle, not a fantasy. It is recorded in County Louth, Ireland, and may have measured about fifty metres across. People lived there, buried their dead, and left behind fire, tools and trade. The fort disappeared under fields and memory, but it is still shaping the land.

In 1993, during the excavation work for the foundations of a dwelling, a number of lintel graves (LH017-112002-) were uncovered. Four test trenches were subsequently excavated to the W of these graves (Excavation Licence 94E0185). Two of the cuttings revealed evidence for a substantial ditch, the fill of which appeared to represent two time periods. Finds recovered from the ditch included animal bone, cremated bone, iron slag, a number of iron objects and two sherds of a cooking vessel of probable French origin with a date between the 9th and 12th centuries. A geophysical survey was carried out in the field immediately to the N of the site. This produced evidence for a ditch like feature, which may perhaps be the northern limit of this possible ringfort (giving a projected diam. of c. 50m). (Murphy, Donald 1995, 65) Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 29 June 2012

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.