Ceremonial enclosure in Glenballythomas,toberrory

On the summit of the Rathcroghan plateau. Rathcroghan mound (RO022-057010-) is just E of the centre of a large enclosure (diam. c. 360m) defined by a fosse which has been traced SE-W-N by geophysical survey and which is visible SE-S. It does not appear to have had an accompanying bank, but seems to have consisted solely of a fosse (Wth c. 5m), which may have been rock-cut in places. No entrance is noted, but the NE quadrant of the perimeter is largely destroyed by quarries. (Waddell et al. 2009, 148, 191, Fig. 5.6) Further work (Fenwick 2018, 77) identified a second, internal enclosure (diam. c. 160m), again defined by a narrow fosse (Wth c. 2m) and utilising the same centre more or less. This also encloses the great mound, placing it just E of its centre, and must be regarded as relating directly to the larger enclosure. An intense examination of a small area (dims 40m N-S; 40m E-W) on the perimeter of the large enclosure at W with various remote sensing techniques, of which the most productive was perhaps fluxgate gradiometer, failed to identify any bank accompanying the fosse (Wth 2.5m), although at this point the fosse was probably not rock-cut. However, the E-W post-medieval cultivation ridges crossed the infilled fosse at this point (Fenwick et al. 2020 89-90). Apart from Rathcroghan mound, the standing stones (RO022-057006-; RO022-057008-); mound (RO022-057007-), barrows (RO022-057013-; RO022-057014-; RO022-056015-; RO022-056016-), the enclosure (RO022-057085-) and the associated avenues (RO022-057093-; RO022-057094-) are also within the ceremonial enclosure. The entire area of the enclosure was cultivated with in small plots of c. 0.4 ha at a later time, but the perimeter still functioned as a boundary over much of the enclosure as can be seen in the changes in direction of the cultivation ridges on either side of it (ibid. 147). (Herity 1983, 130, fig. 38; Waddell 1987-8, 35 No. 50; Fenwick et al. 1996) This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 294. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 Amended: 24 November 2020