Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Simonstown

Located on at the NE end of a slight NE-SW ridge in a gently undulating landscape. This was described in 1969 (SMR file) as a slightly domed (H 0.9m) circular area (int. diam. 50m N-S; c. 47m E-W) defined by a fosse (Wth of top 6-7.5m; Wth of base 1-2m; int. D 0.4m at S to 1m at N; ext. D 0.2m at S to 0.5m at N) and an outer bank (Wth of base 6m; ext. H 0.7m). There was a slight silted drain following the inside the bank but it appeared to be a large ring-barrow. The entrance may have been at E. Excavation (E000114) during 1975 by E. P. Kelly (National Museum of Ireland) determined there were four periods of occupation on the site (excavations.ie 1975:053). Period I. Neolithic: A number of pits and hearths were found stratified under the banks of the fort. Artifacts of the period on the site included sherds of western neolithic pottery, leaf-shaped arrow-heads, a polished stone axe, and hollow and thumb-nail scrapers. Period II: Represented by the foundations of a large sub-rectangular house measuring 10.5m. x 6.25m. The exact date of this structure was not determined but it definitely pre-dated the ring-fort. Period III: Represented by the ring-fort and dating between 500 A.D. and 1000 A.D. Foundations of a small circular house 5m. in diameter and an area where smelting activity took place were identified. Artifacts of the period included glass beads, fragments of jet bracelets and some iron knives. Period IV: Represented by pits and hearths associated with animal bones and pottery of the 17th and 18th centuries. (Moore 1987, 90, no. 880) See linked document published by Tara Mines for further details. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 30 May 2013 Amended: 29 March 2023