Ballymunterhiggin Fairy Fort

In the NW corner of a pasture field, located on the level top of a roughly ENE-WSW ridge, close to the break of slope on the N side where the ground falls away to N in a long gently slope. Slightly raised, roughly circular area (32m E–W; 27.4m N–S to field drain at N) defined NE–NW by a low earthen bank (Wth 5.5-6m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.7m, at E) with an external fosse (Wth 3.5-4m). The bank has been partly levelled and is reduced to a low internal lip with a broadly slumped external scarp. At NW a section of bank (Wth 5m) is entirely levelled. The fosse is infilled and is evident as a cropmark of soft, wet ground distinguished by a thicker growth of rushes. At NNW-NE the bank and fosse are truncated by a field ditch, bordered on its N side by an earth and stone field fence. A gap (Wth 2.5m) in the bank at SE may indicate the original entrance. In the E half of the level interior, there is a faint outline of a N–S linear feature (Wth c. 1m), possibly the remnant of a field boundary or of ridge and furrow cultivation. Two ringbarrows (DG107-095----; DG107-096----) are located on the same ridge, c. 160m and c. 60m, respectively, to SW. Attached image: DG107-123----_01.JPG viewed from SE Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 10 April 2014