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Ballywillwill rath is a counterscarp rath with an associated souterrain located in County Down, Northern Ireland. The monument dates to the early Christian period and comprises a substantial earthwork defence consisting of a central habitation area surrounded by a counterscarp bank, a defensive feature characteristic of Irish ringforts of this era. The souterrain, a subterranean stone-built passage structure, would have served functions ranging from storage to refuge during periods of threat. This combination of features is typical of early medieval settlement sites in Ulster, reflecting the integration of Iron Age fortification traditions with early Christian domestic occupation in Ireland.
Ballywillwill rath. counterscarp rath & souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 7982. View the official record →
Ballywillwill rath is a counterscarp rath with an associated souterrain located in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 7982.
Ballywillwill rath. counterscarp rath & souterrain dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath & souterrain. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Ballywillwill rath. counterscarp rath & souterrain is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 7982.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cashel & souterrain (3.5 km), D-shaped enclosure - possibly cemetery (4.9 km), Standing stone (5.4 km).
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Research the area around Ballywillwill rath. counterscarp rath & souterrain