Enclosure in Termon

In the NE corner of a field in rough karstic pasture. A flat circular area (diam. 11m N-S; 10.5m E-W) defined by a stone bank (Wth 1.4m; H 0.3m), visible on Digital Globe (2011-2013) and on OSi Aerial Premium (2012-2018) ortho photographs. The stone bank is very low profile, compact and largely grass-covered; it can be traced for its full circuit but is barely discernible on the NE arc where a cattle crush stands immediately adjacent. The interior is flat and not noticeably raised above surrounding field level; the surface is moderately strewn with loose small to medium-sized stones, with some stones embedded in and barely protruding from the ground.  Roughly in the centre of the interior is a poorly defined subcircular stone feature (overall diam. c. 3m). It appears to consist of a low, grass-covered ring or bank (Wth c. 0.5m) of stones enclosing a flat space (diam. 1.5-2m). The largest stone is a low upright (L 0.5m; T 0.15m; H 0.25m) evident on the SW edge of the feature. This feature appears to be an artificial setting of stones rather than natural concentration of stones/outcropping, but its function is unclear. The function of this enclosure is unclear although it appears to be ancient. It may be a house site with hearth, some form of burial monument or simply the remains of an animal pen. There is a holy well (CL010-026001-) and 8 penitential stations (CL010-026002- to CL010-026009-) c. 250m to the SW and 5 penitential stations (CL006-014001- to CL006-014005-) c. 190m to the E. The enclosure lies beside the road that runs between the two clusters of penitential stations but it may not be directly associated. The following images have been uploaded: CL006-240----_01.jpg Enclosure on Digital Globe (2011-2013) CL006-240----_02.jpg View from W, ranging rod on W arc of bank CL006-240----_03.jpg View from NE CL006-240----_04.jpg Enclosing bank at SW CL006-240----_05.jpg Central stone setting from SW CL006-240----_06.jpg View on OSi Aerial Premium (2012-2018)   Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 November 2021