Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Killeisk

Early Medieval ringfort on a level platform slightly higher than the surrounding (stripped) area. The site has no remarkable views as it is on a flat plain. Not previously known. The ringfort is oval internally (inside ditch) perhaps 35m x 23m (it extends beyond LMA to the E). Allowing for an internal bank this leaves a size of around 30m x 20m orientated NW-SE. No entrance is visible within LMA. Ditch is 1.5m - 2.5m wide x 0.5m deep. The ditch has been recut in many places and holds water. On the NW side a small well 1.50m deep has been sunk through the base of the ditch cut (ie contemporary with ringfort use). Other parts of the ditch appear to have been recut as a series of 'terraces' to ensure water did not all drain to one end. Internally there are two clusters of postholes, neither of which forms an obvious building. One large, deep pit could be for storage but since it holds water, it could actually be a well / cistern for cattle. The N side of the ringfort is blank - probably indicating an animal area. This possible animal area is matched by a possible semi causeway in the N side of the ringfort ditch that could be an animal (sheep / goat) gate and break in the ringfort bank (the ringfort ditch noticeably narrows at this point as well). Similar feature at Newtownbalregan 6, Dundalk. No evidence for metalworking in the area within the LMA. Ditch backfills contain animal bone and a large rotary quern stone fragment (quern found on W side of ditch). Evidence for slumping, clearance / hearth sweepings, general occupation. No other finds. No evidence for bank or ditch revetment. Decorated quernstone 1 from droveway Decorated quernstone 2 from droveway On the western side of the ringfort is a triangular annex which connects to a droveway formed of parallel ditches. The annex respects the droveway ditch and forms a triangle c.15m x 10m. The droveway, a feature normally associated with cattle, runs for c.25m within LMA (and probably another 25m-30m outside) possibly forming a tangent with the S end of the ringfort ditch outside LMA. The droveway is 4m across between the ditches with two ditches on the N side and one on the south. There was probably a bank between the two N ditches that formed a non-cattle trampled human access route. It is likely that a bank was located to the S of the S ditch. From the ditches of the droveway (one from N and one from S) came two decorated rotary quernstone fragments. The first is of Granite with a hole for a turning handle and a central opening . Decoration surrounds the turning handle. The second is of basalt (?) and is worn very smooth on the grinding surface. Decoration consists of a repeating 'Greek wave' spiral all rounf the central opening. A groove is also carved near to the outer edge. These finds appeared to have been tossed into the ditches rather than deliberately placed, but some deliberate placing would allow for the fact that no other remains of these quernstones were found. Combined with the quernstone of the main enclosure ditch, these querns could be evidence for a deliberate 'closing' and flattening of the entire site prior to re-use through (later) agriculture. Clearly the evidence of three different quernstone fragments (representing coarse grinding and fine grinding) shows significant grain growing in the area. The decorated nature of the quernstones appears to show the grinding was treated with a high degree of significance - rather than simply a mundane task. The ringfort ditch is shallow and presumably the banks were relatively slight. There is no evidence for a stone facing / revetting. The soils are silty-clay and collapse and slumping is endemic. The field is blank on the 1st Ed and annotated as tussocks and rough grass on the 1909 edition. 1st Ed shows the ringfort to have been sited between two curving field boundaries to E and W. Perhaps these irregularities are connected with a field system respecting the ringfort, as at Baronstown, M3. The field was improved and drained and the irregular W field boundary was removed during the 20th century. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008