What is recorded here
The largest surviving chamber measures 6.4 metres across, its wall reduced to a low mound of collapsed stone while its floor sits slightly below the surrounding earth. That much larger interior suggests a gathering hall rather than a private bedroom, perhaps a place where several families met to argue, trade or celebrate before the ringfort fell quiet. The smaller huts clustered near the bank may have belonged to workers, tenants or relatives who moved in and out as the settlement changed. Together they sketch a busy domestic place on the slopes of Reenconnell, not a lonely monument.
Impressive univallate rath KE042-069---- situated on the gentle NW slopes of Reenconnell, with an excellent outlook over much of the N side of this W end of the Dingle Peninsula.
(1) Two curved sections of drystone-facing, located on the inner face of the bank on either side of the NW gap, should probably be interpreted as the inner face of a roughly circular hut, now cut-through by the entrance gap. A band of stone collapse, a little to SE, may mark the SE limit of the structure which would, therefore, measure c. 3.9m x 3.5m internally.
(2) This hut, c. 4.2m in diameter internally, is built against the ringfort bank at SE. It was probably originally circular but only the SE half of the wall, .5m high, survives.
(3) and (4) Two huts, probably conjoined, abut the bank at E, but their condition is such that their precise shape and size could not be determined.
(5) A circular hut, 6.4 x 6m in diameter internally, located in the S sector of the rath. Its interior is depressed below the surrounding ground level and the wall is reduced to a mound of stone collapse. A very short stretch of the outer wall-face is visible at NE.
(6) and (7) There are vague traces of a possible hut a little to NW of (5). A dense scatter of stone to NE of this may mark the site of another.
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 355. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 6 August 2013
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- What survives
- Recorded monument
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