Enclosure in Steelaun

Located in pasture, encompassing a low rise. Ground rises to W-NW to a ridge which forms the skyline. To E-SE the ground falls away for c. 400m to the mouth of the Palmerstown River. This enclosure is not shown on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It may be the remnants of a ringfort. It consists of a circular area (45.5m NW-SE; c. 45m NE–SW) defined SE–NW by a degraded, sod-covered stony bank (Wth 3.4m; int. H 0.1m; ext. H 0.5m), and elsewhere by a stony scarp (Wth slope 2.6m; H 0.7m). Ephemeral undulations outside the bank at S and at W-NW may be remnants of an outer enclosing element. In the interior there is a gentle slope down from centre to the W-SW. In the SE quadrant, close to the bank, is a sub-rectangular or oblong structure (c. 6m NW-SE; c. 7-10m NE-SW) defined by a low stony bank (Wth 1.3-1.6m; H 0.3m). It is difficult to examine due to overgrowth and a general spread of stones around it. In the N half of the interior there are a number of discrete concentrations of stones, but it was not possible to determine whether they represent structures, internal divisions or merely heaps of field clearance stone. A field fence on a NW-SE axis bisects the enclosure to N of centre. A road bordered by a field wall lies immediately to E-SE. A rath (MA015-072----) is located c. 150m to SW, and another rath (MA015-073----) is c. 120m to S. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 7 December 2018