County: Fermanagh Site name: ROSSGWEER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 10:41 Licence number: —
Author: Eoin Halpin, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Ringfort - rath
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 618747m, N 856200m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.453969, -7.710903
A proposed refurbishment of two farm buildings located close to the site of a rath necessitated an archaeological impact assessment. The substantial remains of the rath are sited on top of a prominent ridge, in improved grassland, overlooking Lower Lough Erne and with good views in every direction. The site consists of a large oval platform, 43m north–south x 35m. A perimeter bank survives in an arc around the west quadrant. The bank is 2.1m wide, 0.6m high internally and 1.5m high externally at the west. There are no visible remains of a ditch. At the east, the platform is 1.5m high. To the north-east, east and south the rath has been badly damaged by cattle and by the construction of the two farm buildings, one of which is built into the perimeter at the south.
The assessment revealed that the platform rath did not have an associated ditch running along its southern perimeter. Therefore the proposed addition of a conservatory to the west side of the existing barn would not affect any significant archaeological deposits. The existing metalled surface between the barn and the cottage lies directly on undisturbed natural, and nothing of significance was uncovered in the area of the proposed services to the north-east of the site.
Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ
