Embanked enclosure in Ballyseedy

Located approximately 100m to the north of KE038-094----. It takes the form of a large circular earthen bank, which measures 50m N-S by 49m E-W and encloses a circular depression 27m N-S by 26m E-W. No trace of an external ditch could be found, and it therefore seems likely that the bank was constructed by scooping out material from the interior and piling it so as to create the enclosing element. This would also account for the dish-like appearance of the interior, which at its deepest is almost 2m below the level of the top of the bank. The bank has an average width of 9m and is 0.4m above external ground surface. As in the example of the embanked enclosure at Tonavane, the field in which this site occurs has undergone intensive cultivation, and so probably denuding this site considerably. This is probably the reason that it is difficult to trace the enclosing element at west, although the site can still be seen in its entirety from the colour aerial photograph taken from 5000 feet. Compiled by Michael Connolly for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland as part of a survey of the Lee Valley area in 1996-97. Date of upload: 3 May 2012