Enclosure in Cush

Reassigned this SMR number to the rectangular enclosure described by Ó Ríordáin. In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Enclosure, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the W earthwork of six conjoined ringforts (LI048-034025-/026-/027-/028-/016-/041-). Rectangular enclosure described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 88, 115-16) as follows; ‘The earthworks of the Southern Group cover about three acres, and consist of Ring-Forts 1 to 5 (LI048-034-025-/026-/-27-/028-/016-), the approximately rectangular area delimited by a fosse and bank which we shall refer to as the "Enclosure" and the portion of a fort (LI048-034041-) marked No. 6 which is in the south-eastern corner of the Enclosure and enclosed partly by the bank of the latter and partly by the defences of Ring-Forts Nos. 4 (LI048-034028-) and 5 (LI048-034016-). Forts 2 (LI048-034026-), 3 (LI048-034027-), 4 (LI048-034028-) and 5 (LI048-034016-) form an almost straight line running approximately N.N.W.-S.S.E. along the contour of the hill. Forts Nos. 1 (LI048-034025-) and 6 (LI048-034041-) as well as the Enclosure lie to the west of these and below them on the hill-slope. The western side of the enclosure follows almost exactly the 700' [200m] contour line being but slightly higher at the northern than the southern end. The whole Southern Group is marked on the Ordnance Sheet Cul Uachtrach but locally the use of the name seemed to be confined to that portion of the group south of the modern fence that runs up the slope of the hill and across the Fort'. This enclosure was excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts. The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. Part of the western bank still served as a modern field fence. Sections cut across the defences of the enclosure at various points showed that the fosse was, in general, cut well into the underlying rock and was a more formidably built defence than the fosse of any of the ring-forts. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. Inside the bank on the southern side we found a line of twelve large but shallow post-holes (diameters from 1 to 3 feet [0.3-0.9m], average depth 8 inches [0.2m], which appeared to have been intended for some structure which strengthened the defences on that side, though we did not find any evidence of a similar structure elsewhere. We were not able to find any reason for the existence of the post-holes at this point since the clearing of two wide strips inside them revealed no trace of a building here. The surface indications suggested that the entrance to the Enclosure was to be found where the east-west modern field-fence crossed the defences. Excavation showed that this was correct. It was found that the fosses ceased, the one directly under the modern fence, the other about 12 feet [3.65m] from it, thus leaving a passage over 13 feet [4m] wide between the ends. No traces could be found of any protective structure, timber or stone, to guard the entrance. Crossing the Enclosure from the western side of Ring-Fort 1(LI048-034025-) was a slight bank and a fosse which deepened towards the south where it ran into the fosse of the Enclosure. This was part of a series of fosses and shallower trenches which were found in the Enclosure, particularly in the south-east of it. The reason for these was not clear they evidently represented successive changes in the settlement, the relative chronology of which was not apparent. Thus the fosse of Ring-Fort 6 at the angle where it turned south along the western side of the fort was also continued westwards and northwards. The westward extension joined the north-south fosse which crossed the Enclosure and which is referred to above. It was not practicable to follow the northward extension but a trial trench did not reveal it at the other side of the modern fence. Other slight trenches, these evidently intended for drainage purposes, were found west of the north-south cross fosse and were so constructed as to carry superfluous water towards the southern fosse of the Enclosure. 'House a' (LI048-034045-) - This house, the first one discovered, was found on the western side of Ring-Fort 1 (LI048-034025-), just inside, and partly covered by, the bank of the enclosure. There were no surface indications of the house having existed at this spot and its discovery was due to the fact that a section across the fosse and bank of the Enclosure happened to strike the house. The site is marked (a) on the general plan and for convenience we shall refer to the house as 'House a'. Though the house was partly under the bank of the Enclosure (LI048-034042-), one could not say if it was earlier than the latter or was merely covered by some of the material of the bank because of the spreading out of this material subsequent to the collapse of the bank. The latter seems the more likely alternative. 'House b' [LI048-034046-] - The construction of this house was totally different from that of any other of the houses found. It consisted of an approximately rectangular area (about 23 feet [7m] in length by slightly over 10 feet [3m] in breadth) sunk to a depth of about 3 feet [0.9m] in the ground and stone-walled around most of its perimeter. 'Site c' [LI048-034047-] - More than one house existed at this site but for convenience they are dealt with under one title and they are differentiated from House b which to some extent was situated on the same site. The main house found on Site c was built in part directly over House b. 'House d' [LI048-034048-] - At the site marked d we found a post-hole house irregular in outline. It was approached from the westward by a narrow sunken way, less than 2 feet [0.6m] wide at its narrowest, hollowed to a depth of about 6 inches [0.15m] out of the boulder clay, and edged along part of its course by a setting of stones. 'Site e' [LI048-034049-] - Here on the western side of Fort 6 (LI048-034041-) we cleared a considerable area in the hope of getting house sites'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 8 September 2021