Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Raheens

In pasture, hachured as single-banked enclosure on 1842 OS 6-inch map; subsequent removal of field fences and extensive ploughing removed all visible traces of site. Excavated 1989 by Ann-Marie Lennon in advance of destruction by Sandoz factory. Enclosed by two fosses (int. diam. 34m); inner fosse (Wth 3m; D 1.4m; outer fosse (Wth 1.79m-2.2m). No trace of bank. Concentric to and 1m inside W section of inner bank, trench (L 18m; Wth 1.8m; D 0.45m); excavator suggest that primary function 'was to hold a slot beam' for 'uprights....forming a palisade'. Backfilled with charcoal and heat-shattered stones, including sherd of French early medieval origins. Two round structures in interior. House 1: diam. c. 5m; stake built except for one segment of slots, apparently for upright contiguous planks; occasional post-pits also along line. No trace of entrance or hearth. House 2: diam. c. 6m, construction mostly of double line stakes; entrance to SE (Wth 0.8m) flanked by twin post pipes. Scatter of post-holes, pits and stake-holes also in interior. Finds included iron blade, nails, perforated hone-stone and sherds of 10th century French pottery. Outsidef ort to W, stone-lined pit of unknown function, post-pits, stake-holes and trench. Excavator suggests may be 'associated with ....construction.....ringfort' of short-term use' (Lennon forthcoming). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009