Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Camlin

A circular ringfort c.29 x 28m in diameter internally placed on a slightly higher, level terrace than the surrounding (stripped) surface. The ringfort actually sits at the top of a long, gentle slope that drops to the south. The ringfort ditch is c.2m wide x 1m deep max. with a causewayed entrance to the E. The entrance has clearly been narrowed with the terminals of both ditch sections extended towards each other. From slippage it seems there was an unfaced / un-revetted bank on the inside of the ditch. Occasional wooden sticks have been found in the base of the ditch but none of them seems to be worked. The ditch fills present a uniform, mostly waterlain fill. Numerous features inside have not resolved into any clear buildings or areas of use. The S side of ditch contains extensive deposits of slag including furnace bottoms showing significant metalworking on the site. Also frag of a bone pin from ditch and occ fragments of animal bone. Internally, no clear buildings or hearths were identified and there is no clear evidence for domestic refuse. Externally to the N are what appear to be lines of stakeholes that may show short fences or buildings. A bowl furnace was found 20m S of the ringfort. Modern field boundaries The site has numerous ditches that appear to run into the ringfort ditch but also large ditches, drains and furrows that cut right through the site. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008