Outlined — Capard

An enclosure (max. dims. c. 100m N-S, c. 90m E-W), surrounding the top of a hill, defined by a bank with an entrance at NNW visible on aerial photograph taken c. 1950 (ACAP, V 300, 731-2). The area is now covered with forestry but the remains of earthen bank (H c. 2m, Wth 1.5m), much interfered with, may be in part original. No evidence of fosse. This site might be classified as a hilltop enclosure. The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Near the modern town of Rosenallis, a circular contour fort positioned in a commanding position at the NE end of a hill ridge known as the 'Ridge of Capard'. The site measures about 100m N-S by 90m E-W and has a total site footprint of approximately 0.9ha. The site is strategically positioned overlooking the River Barrow to the NE and has excellent views of low-lying terrain to the NW, N, E and S and along the crest of the ridge to the SW. Much of the hill ridge, including the contour fort itself, is covered in dense forestry. This has affected the univallate enclosing elements and has prevented detailed survey of the monument. The bank is earthen and measures approximately 2m high an 1.5m wide. A simple entrance feature was identified in Cambridge aerial photographs at the NNW. There are no obvious internal features visible on the surface. The site was first depicted in the second edition Ordnance Survey maps as a circular enclosure. Site survey by Sweetman in 1995.'(http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR3055.html) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007