Listurkan

In pasture, straddling a natural rise, utilising natural contours, in strongly undulating, hillocky terrain; views are most extensive to N–SE over expanses of bog and pasture; overlooked by a hillock to NW. An oval embanked enclosure is shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; by the time of the 1916 edition only the NW arc is shown; named ‘Listurkan’. Oval area (c. 75m NE–SW; c. 60m NW–SE) defined W–NNE by a scarp (ext. H 2.7-3m; Wth slope 3m), at NE–E into a substantial earthen bank (Wth 2m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.55m) which is incorporated into a field fence, and levelled on the S half of the circuit to a faint curving undulation marked by a light growth of rushes. The scarp at W–N utilises the steep natural contours, with a slope dropping into a natural depression of wettish ground bordered by hillocks. The field fence/bank at E retains traces of internal stone facing and peters out at E–SE where it intersects with two field fences forming the corner of an adjoining field. The levelled S arc of the rath is partly overlain by a post and wire fence on an ENE–WSW axis. The interior is generally level, except at NW where a low curving slope or scarp marks a drop in ground level sloping outwards towards the edge of the rath scarp. The original entrance is not evident; it may have been at S–SW where the rath merges with a natural, ramp-like slope. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 23 September 2022