County: Mayo Site name: LISLACKAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 71:42 Licence number: —
Author: Gerry Walsh
Site type: Ringfort - rath
Period/Dating: Iron Age (800 BC-AD 339)
ITM: E 535565m, N 797513m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.922969, -8.980983
Archaeological excavations at Lislackagh ringfort near Swinford, Co. Mayo commenced in September 1992 and are due to finish in March 1993. As one half of the ringfort will be destroyed when the Swinford By-pass Road Project is completed, Mayo Co. Council funded an archaeological excavation.
The ringfort is designated as a single banked enclosure on the various editions of the O.S. maps. This bank was levelled over 10 years ago and very little of it remains today; however, substantial archaeological information has been uncovered during the ongoing excavations.
The foundation trenches of 2 circular wooden houses (3.5m and 4m in diameter) were revealed in the south-western quadrant of the ringfort. The entrance to the ringfort faces east. An iron smelting furnace bottom, large amounts of iron slag and an iron knife were also discovered within the fort. Other small finds dating to the Early Christian period include bone, stone and blue glass beads, a fragment of a jet or lignite bracelet, flint and chert implements, pieces of copper and some animal bone. Up to 6 animal jaw bones were uncovered from one of the house foundations.
Rathbawn Rd. Castlebar, Co. Mayo
