What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human places misnamed, often built or changed in medieval times when belief in fairy forts was common. This is an earthen ringfort in Herbertstown, Co Meath: an oval grass-covered area about 38m by 29m, with a bank, outer ditch, part of a counterscarp, and an entrance at ENE. It sits on a rise, where a household could have lived, watched the land, and been forgotten until measured.

Situated on a prominent rise in an undulating landscape. This is an oval or subrectangular grass-covered area (dims 38m NE-SW; 29m SE-NW) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 4-5.5m; int. H 0.2m at E to 0.8m at W; ext. H 1.4-1.6m) and an outer fosse (Wth of top 5-6m; Wth of base 2.5m; ext. D 0.2m at E to 1m at W) that has eroded away E-SE, and traces of an outer counterscarp bank (Wth of base 3m; ext. H 0.3m) that is incorporated into a relict field bank WSW-NNE but absent E-SE. The original entrance (Wth of base 4.7m) and causeway (Wth of top 1.5m; H 0.5m) are at ENE. 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: 9 January 2019

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