Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Moyally

Testing was carried out by David Bayley of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway. The site was identified during testing undertaken by Fintan Walsh (IAC Ltd) in July 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated in January 2006. An excavation area measuring 45m by 32m was opened. The site comprised part of a ringfort ditch and bank and three isolated external features. The majority of the ringfort was outside the CPO, with only a 39m-long arc of the ditch contained within the CPO. The internal diameter of the ringfort was 30m. The ditch was V-shaped in profile, with a maximum width of 4.4m and a maximum depth of 1.96m. An internal bank was created surviving to a maximum depth of 0.45m. Finds recovered from the ditch fills indicate an early medieval date for the occupation of the ringfort. Three isolated features were recorded situated external to the ringfort ditch. These consisted firstly of a post-hole located south-west of the ringfort, secondly a small pit with evidence of burning located west-south-west of the ringfort and thirdly a second pit with evidence of fire-reddened clay, lying to the west of the ringfort. No dating evidence was recovered during the excavation of the three isolated features but it has been assumed that they are contemporary with the use of the ringfort (Bennett 2010, 404). Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 08 November 2011