Caherconnell Stone Fort

Caherconnell Stone Fort
Cathair Chonaill

Part of the wall of Caherconnell Stone Fort
Shown within Ireland
Location Parish of Kilcorney, The Burren
Region Ireland
Coordinates 53°02′27″N 9°08′21″W / 53.04075°N 9.139172°W
Type Ringfort
History
Periods Medieval
Site notes
Archaeologists Graham Hull
Ownership Private
Public access Yes

Caherconnell (Irish: Cathair Chonaill, meaning "Conall's stone ringfort")[1] is a medieval, exceptionally well-preserved stone ringfort in The Burren of County Clare, Ireland. It lies about 1 km south of the Poulnabrone dolmen.

Location

Caherconnell lies west of the R480 road connecting Ballyvaughan and Leamaneh Castle in the townland of Caherconnell, parish of Kilcorney, Burren barony, County Clare. The local geology is karst limestone and the land is used for pasture. [2]:1

Description

Caherconnell features a circular drystone enclosure wall with a diameter of 42 metres. Walls are up to 3 metres thick and up to 3 metres high. The amount of loose stones suggests an original height of around one extra metre. The wall is made of local limestone. The entrance gap is located to the east.[2]:2

Inside the enclosure are the remains of a dividing drystone wall, around a metre wide. There are also two visible structures. Structure A is located next to the north wall of the fort. It is rectangular with the long axis running east to west, measuring roughly 10m by 5m. Structure B is next to the west wall of the fort, measuring around 7.5m by 5m internally. Its north wall is part of the dividing wall.[2]:2

Some additional structures surround the ringfort. The existence of a Souterrain has been surmised but nothing definite has been found.[2]:3-4

Excavations

According to Radiocarbon dating conducted in connection with an archaelogical dig in the summer of 2007, the ringfort mostly dates from the early 10th to mid-12th century. Occupation deposits indicate the fort was used from around the early 10th century to the early 13th century. The later structure A with a rectangular outline was likely built between the early 15th and mid-17th century.[2]:28

Findings indicate that the inhabitants not only consumed relatively high-status items but were also manufacturing them at the site (pin-making mould). There seems to have been precious metal work going on and there are signs of ironworking (slag, possible anvil position). The archaelogical report also notes that: "The imposing morphology of the site, its walls and diameter, sets it apart from the vast majority of cashels in the Burren".[2]:29 The relatively long use - well into modern times - is attributed to the fact that the area was not directly affected by Anglo-Norman influences but remained culturally Gaelic for a long time.[2]:29

Today

The ringfort is open to the public. The owner runs a visitor centre with an audio visual presentation.

From summer 2010, Caherconnell has been home to an archaeological field school where students can learn archaeological techniques from leading archaeologists.

References

  1. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Hull, Graham; Comber, Michelle (24 July 2008), Caherconnell Cashel, Caherconnell, Carron, Co. Clare, Final Archaeological Excavation Report

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caherconnell.

Coordinates: 53°2′26.7″N 9°8′21.02″W / 53.040750°N 9.1391722°W