Settlement cluster in Kilcullane

In flat gently undulating wet rushy pasture at the junction of Kilcullane townland with Moohane. The site is located 1km SE of the Carraig Aille stone forts (LI032-053002-/003-) at Lough Gur. The settlement remains are part of a complex of archaeological monuments comprising a multi-vallate ringfort (LI032-071001-) at its centre with an earthwork (LI032-071003-) located 30m to NW. The possible settlement earthworks are not depicted on the OSi historic maps. Identified (LI032-071004-) by Bruff aerial photographic survey in 1986 (Bruff 176; AP 4/3606) as a trackway. The settlement earthworks are partially visible on the OSi orthoimage taken 2005-12 and on Digital Globe orthoimage taken 2011-2013 where the extent of the earthworks on the SE side of the ringfort is visible extending 55m to NE; 45m to E and 50m to SE. The site is defined on its NW side by the ringfort (LI032-071001-) and survives S of the modern townland boundary with Moohane, the E and S sides are defined by modern field boundaries that have mostly been removed which partially reflect the earlier archaeological earthworks (ext. dims. c. 134m N-S; 98m E-W). The site is visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 05/04/2006; 25/03/2017; 28/06/2018 and 20/09/2020. The possible settlement earthworks are clearest on Google Earth orthoimage taken 25/03/2017. The possible settlement is laid out NE and SW of a road (L. 50m; Wth. 3.5m; orientated NW-SE) leading from the S to the ringfort. Three rectangular enclosures are located S of the road. The W enclosure abutting the external fosse of the ringfort is the largest (ext. dims. 22m NE-SW; 28m NW-SE). The central enclosure (ext. dims. 15m NE-SW; 15m NW-SE) may represent the remains of a house foundation. A smaller enclosure (ext. dims. 11m NE-SW; 7m NW-SE) may also represent the wall footings of a house. The possible house sites to the N are less clear, although there is a rectangular-shaped enclosure (ext. dims. 16.5m NE-SW; 12m NW-SE) abutting the road and several other enclosures and features to the NE between the road and the townland boundary. These earthworks may represent the remains of a medieval clustered settlement. See attached Bruff survey image Bruff 4/3606 and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 19 November 2020 See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP - 349/1 taken 13/09/2002.