What is recorded here

Drumlee Stone Ringfort is a 28-metre circular enclosure on a western ridge in County Donegal, where a stone wall still stands except where a later field boundary cut through the north. Inside the flat rock-scraped ground, a low rectangular foundation and a small eastern chamber suggest people lived, prayed or stored things there before the land was divided. Local tradition calls it an ecclesiastical site and identifies the rectangular structure as an oratory, but the shape also fits an ordinary strongholds or household defended against weather and neighbours. The missing northern arc does not disappear entirely; it continues faintly beyond the field wall, as if the ring refused to be erased.

Internal diam. 28m. A circular enclosure delimited by a stone-built wall complete on all but the N side, where a field boundary cuts across it. Beyond this wall, the arc of the bank continues to be barely visible. To the W is a possible outer wall, which turns S to meet a field wall. To the N of this is a possible entrance in the form of a single 'jambstone' and a gap. This outer wall does not occur elsewhere but a natural drop on the W side, would have precluded the need for it. The interior is flat, with a low sub-rectangular foundation (DG012-033002-), fairly centrally placed and orientated E-W. There is also a small circular enclosure (DG012-033003-) abutting the bank on the inside to the E. There is no great depth of soil, and much outcrop occurs. A tradition believes the site to be an ecclesiastical enclosure and the rectangular structure an oratory. It is situated on a small platform on the W side of N-S ridge. The ground is rough but partly grass-covered. 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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