Field system in Raheen (iverk By.)

A meandering stretch of an ancient field wall was exposed in the course of clearance in advance of proposed afforestation. On examination in 2012 the wall was visible for an estimated length of c. 60m and ran in an approximate N-S line. It terminated at a modern field boundary at the N and it seems likely that it originally would have extended further in this direction. It was not possible to examine it beyond the visble S end due to the density of the vegetation cover. This wall appears to have formed part of a larger field system much of which remains concealed beneath a dense growth of vegetation. A probable section of a cross-wall was visible towards the S end of the exposed section and another possible fragment of collapsed wall was exposed where an access route had been cut through the vegetation beside the field boundary to the E. The wall is composed of stones of varying sizes, some of megalithic proportions. A number of these are set on end but none are securely fixed in the ground. This stretch of wall may be coincident with a field boundary indicated on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map (surveyed 1839) which also includes a trigonometrical station (447 feet OD) in this area. However, the walling construction is not typical of any of the other 18th/19th century field boundaries in the area and the field system is likely to be much earlier in date: the possibility that it could date to the prehistoric period cannot be excluded. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 29 August 2012