Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Parknabinnia

Situated on Roughan Hill on the E edge of the Burren and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL017-180----). Survey and excavation in this area (Jones et al. 2011, 33-58) have revealed a prehistoric landscape comprising farms, cairns and megalithic tombs lying within a contemporary field system (c. 2.5km N-S, c. 1.5km E-W) comprising many sections of prehistoric mound wall (CL016-172----). Four such farms are clustered on Roughan Hill within 200m of each other (see CL016-167003-, CL016-173----, CL017-173001-, CL016-174----, CL016-175----, CL016-176----). This record is for one of three conjoined enclosures making up ‘Farm RH5’. Enclosure CL016-177---- is conjoined at SSE and CL016-174---- is at NE. Two sections were excavated across two of the enclosure walls in Farm RH5 as part of a wall dating project which revealed that RH5 is contemporary with other prehistoric farms in the area dating to the Beaker period and Early Bronze Age (Jones 2008, 42-53; 2011, 39; 2019, 10). Similar lithic artifacts to the other farms were also found. This enclosure (dims. 38.8m E-W; c. 34.6m N-S) is subcircular in shape as are the two conjoined enclosures and is defined by a slight stone wall (Wth 1.2-1.5m; H c. 0.3-0.5m) which comprises basal stones and facing-stones (dims. c. 0.7m; 0.5m) with a core of cobble-sized stones and which has been reduced to a stone spread at W (Wth 1.8m; H 0.3m). A possible annexe (15m N-S; 6m E-W) to the E of a wide gryke (Wth 7m; D 0.7-1m) aligned N-S running the full length of the site may be original and the S wall of this annexe has large slabs aligned E-W. A quarry has been dug into the site at S and at N the enclosure wall has been straightened. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 26 July 2022