1973:049 - LISDUGGAN NORTH, Cork

This site was the third in a series of ringforts excavated in the townland of Lisduggan North, Kanturk. Ringforts 1 and 2 were excavated in the 1972 season. This work was necessitated by impending quarry development which would result in the total destruction of the ringforts.

At the time of the present excavation, ringfort 3 was in a relatively good state of preservation. The ringfort enclosure was circular in plan with an average diameter of 45m. The enclosing element consisted of an earthen bank which had been constructed using the material quarried from a ditch which ran outside and circumferential with the ringfort bank. The bank was of two phases construction; there was however no dating evidence to suggest when either phase of construction took place or what the time lapse between the two phases was. There was no evidence for palisades, stone or turf revetments or any such structural feature either inside, outside, or on top of the ringfort bank.

Excavation of the entrance area revealed the existence of a deliberately laid down gravel spread on and around the entrance causeway. There was no evidence in the form of postholes or bedding trenches for the existence of a gate structure in the vicinity of the entrance.

Excavation of the ringfort enclosure showed that it had been cultivated many times in the past. Two ridge and furrow systems, which ran at right angles to each other, had caused much disturbance of the archaeological evidence. Despite this disturbance it proved possible to locate and identify the remains of a rectangular structure situated near to the centre of the ringfort enclosure. This structure measured 7m by 6m. The evidence for this rectangular structure was visible in the form of a foundation trench, which measured about 20cm in width and 15cm in depth. The charred remains of a number of posts were found in the fill of the foundation trench.