Enclosure in Ballynacarrick (ballintra Ed)

In rough, damp, rush-grown pasture, bordered immediately to NW by a low terrace of limestone outcropping, and overlooked c. 50m to S by an E–W ridge. Subcircular area (18.2m E–W; c. 16.7m N-S) defined on the NW half by low, earthen bank (Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.6m) outside which is a broad, flat-based fosse (Wth 3-3.5m; H 0.4-0.5m) with remnants of an external bank (Wth 3.5m; H 0.4-0.45m). The SE half of the enclosure is not clearly defined, merging almost imperceptibly with very wet, rush-grown ground where the outline of the fosse cannot be clearly traced and where the outer bank is absent. The interior is level, with firmer drier ground in the N third but increasingly wet towards the S. In the N half of the interior there is a low semicircular rise (c. 2.5m E–W), curving WSW–NE, of unknown function. The siting of this enclosure in low, wet ground is to be noted as it differs from other enclosures in this locality, the majority of which are located on dry ground or on elevated terraces and ridges. Attached images: DG103-080----_01.JPG enclosure viewed form N DG103-080----_02.JPG broad fosse intervening between two banks, viewed from E   Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 29 June 2015