Promontory fort — coastal in An Coimín (tc An Mhín Aird)

Bull's Head promontory is an extensive headland which projects SW into Dingle Bay. The interior rises steeply to a rocky ridge which extends NE-SW along the centre of the headland attaining a maximum height of 376 feet/115m OD. A complex series of walls, banks and fosses occur about 100m E of the highest point, overlooking the landward approach to the site. These isolate an area roughly 350 x 320m in extent, consisting, for the most part, of precipitous slopes rising from the sea cliffs. The defences have been traced for a distance of roughly 200m, and at the N end continue downhill to the cliff edge; this final section could not be included on the plan due to its position on very steeply sloping ground. At their highest point, a massive rock outcrop has been incorporated into the defences and the walls fall away downslope to either side of this. In general the defences consist of 3 or 4 lines of walls or banks separated by level spaces or slight fosses; these step gradually downhill to the exterior and are greatly confused by extensive collapse and more recent interference. Stones have been robbed to construct sheep-shelters along the inner and outer faces of the inner wall at its N end. Some of these were recorded on the 2nd edition of the OS map but the southernmost on the outside of the wall has been built within an earlier, roughly circular hut with an internal diameter of c. 6.5m. Entrance gaps occur at 3 points along the defences. The 2 northernmost are now blocked by later walling but both appear to be original. Their drystone side walls are preserved in parts. The southernmost entrance does not break through the inner wall. A causeway crosses the 2 stony banks and fosses visible on the S side and extends only as far as the level berm which separates these from the inner wall in this section. Extending W from the walls along both sides of the central ridge and on its summit are at least 14 hut-sites. In plan these range from sub-rectangular through oval to circular, and they vary in internal diameter from 2 to 6m. They are enclosed by the low remains of drystone walls or by stony banks, and many incorporate sections of the outcropping rock in their construction. Several of the structures are conjoined. In addition to these clearly-defined hut-sites, at least 75 depressions or hollows occur in a continuous and regular series on the 3 seaward sides of the promontory, along the upper edge of the steep scarp and cliffs. The depressions are excavated back into the sloping hillside and are no more than .75m deep. They vary from c. 1 to 5m in internal diameter and contain no traces of masonry. Two appear to have entrance gaps and enclosing banks. These latter may be ruined hut-sites, but in general the function of these features is unclear. Traces of a low stone wall skirt the seaward side of the NW series. A small number of similar features occur also in the promontory fort at Ballyoughteragh South (KE042-034001-). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 271. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 4 August 2013