Hilltop enclosure in Curragh (barrymore By.) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Hilltop enclosure is a circular bivallate earthwork on a commanding Cork hilltop, not a typical Irish hillfort. Double banks and a U-shaped ditch surround a 75-metre interior that slopes upward to the northern summit, while the entrance faces northwest. The steep southern and eastern drop gives a wide view, making the small defended space feel less like a fortress and more like a watchful room set above the valley.

On top of a hill, in commanding position; land falls away steepy to S and E; extensive view to S. Circular area (75m N-S; 74.9m E-W) enclosed by bivallate earthen defences: inner bank (int. H 0.55m; ext. H 1.7m) separated from outer bank (int. H 1.2m; ext. H 1.6m) by flattened U-shaped fosse; outer fosse (D 0.5m) evident all around but survives best SSW->NE. Entrance to NW. Interior slopes up to N; N end is summit of hill; numerous tree boles covered by sparce scrub vegetation. To SE scarp (H 1m; L c. 21m) runs from inner bank face in WNW direction, may be recent feature. On edge of coniferous plantation which skirts enclosure W->E. Unlikely to be hillfort as "the area enclosed falls well short of an average hillfort and bivallate defences are not typical of Irish hillforts (pers. comm. Dr. Barry Raftery). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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