Enclosure in Gortakeeran

In pasture, located on a natural terrace, on a steep SE-facing slope in the southern foothills of the Ox Mountains. The enclosure is located at the N edge of the terrace where the slope rises steeply to NW. The relatively level terrace extends c. 50m to SE of the enclosure before the ground falls away again in a steep slope. There are extensive views E–SW, with Kesh Corrann and Knocknashee forming prominent landmarks in the distance to SE and S, respectively. The enclosure is not shown on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. It consists of an oval area (16m NE–SW; 14m NW-SE) defined by a collapsed stone wall, with a broad gap (Wth c. 7m) at NE. The wall is evident as a low, largely sod-covered stone bank. The S half of the enclosure is built up slightly to compensate for the natural slope. At SE–SSW the wall/stone bank is flush with interior ground level but has a broadly slumped external slope (Wth slope c. 3m; ext. H 0.8m), at SW–WNW it is evident as low wall footings (Wth 1.2-1.4m), and at NW–N the outer edge is almost flush with exterior ground level but it has a broadly slumped interior slope (H 0.5-0.6m). The NW–N section of the wall appears somewhat linear and may have been incorporated into a NE–SW field boundary in the past, and it also incorporates field clearance stones. Attached images: SL025-168----_01.JPG viewed from SE SL025-168----_01.JPG viewed from E, showing broad gap at NE, and field clearance stones piled on bank at NW Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 6 July 2015