Enclosure in Carricknahorna West

In rough pasture, in the Bricklieve mountains, located at the S end of a limestone ridge. The ridge forms a flat topped, roughly oval island of elevated ground (c. 200m NW–SE; c. 90m NE–SW) rising several meters above an undulating valley of rough pasture and bog. The ridge is defined on its perimeter by a vertical escarpment of exposed limestone which is several meters high and relatively sheer at the E-S and W sides of the ridge, but in parts at SW and at N-NE forms an easily accessible terraced slope. The ridge is overlooked at N, E, and SW by much larger, higher ridges defined by steep, limestone cliffs. There are excellent views in all directions from the enclosure, in particular, to N along a narrow valley which provides a routeway to N between the ridges, and immediately to SE over a broad gap which provides a natural routeway out of the mountains to lowlying grassland at S. Broadly oval area (25m NE–SW; c. 20m NW–SE), which is flat and not raised above surrounding ground level, defined on the perimeter at NW−N and E by a gapped line of moss-covered stones. At SE–W the perimeter coincides with the break of slope at the edge of the plateau: at SE this consists of a low drop to a small terrace, and at SW–W the perimeter coincides with a cliff edge. It is uncertain to what extent this is an enclosure; its outline is distinguished mainly as a relatively stone-free space, which contrasts with the proliferation of irregular, moss-covered hummocks of limestone bedrock breaking the surface throughout the rest of the plateau. It may be associated with the more clearly defined, oval enclosure (SL040-246----) which lies immediately to NE, the interior of which is marked by a similar density of low stony hummocks to the rest of the plateau. It may represent an area cleared for cultivation rather than an enclosure per se, although no cultivation ridges are visible. It could, for instance, be a small field plot associated with two 18th/19th century rectangular houses, which are shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map at the base of the W side of the ridge. Attached images: SL040-246001-_01.JPG: viewed from E, with stone bank of another enclosure (SL040-246----) visible in the foreground. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 28 May 2018