What is recorded here

Indicated is a vast field system spanning much of the Burren, marked by dense irregular boundaries that touch cashels, enclosures and ancient tomb sites. It is not a new boundary but a old land surface, shaped by repeated use and still visible beneath scrub in places. The fields suggest that people lived across this whole area for a long time, changing and reusing the same ground.

An extensive field system (c. 4.5km E-W; c. 3.6km N-S) stretching from Ballybreen and Kilfenora at W to Ballyganner at E and from Noughaval at N to Leamaneh at S, visible intermittently on Digital Globe (2011-2013) and on OSi Aerial Premium (2012-2018). The E half encompasses some upland exposed karst with some scrub cover. Densely packed irregular field patterns are associated with some of the 61 cashels and 44 enclosures in the area as at Caherballykinvarga (CL009-059012-), Cahercutteen (CL009-059039-) and Caherwalsh (CL009-059045-) as well as around Noughaval church and graveyard (CL009-059023- and CL009-059024-). Some parts of the field system may have prehistoric elements given the presence of 11 wedge tombs. Some areas within the field system have been reclaimed. Extensive field systems with prehistoric and medieval elements extend over most of the Burren uplands. Those currently visible on aerial or satellite imagery are outlined for mapping purposes but it is likely that they continue under scrub and meet in certain areas. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 6 September 2021

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