E.CHRIST. · RATH

Bivallate rath

Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 12428
Period
E.CHRIST.
Site type
RATH
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Bivallate rath is a bivallate hill fort located near Magherafelt in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of two concentric defensive earthen banks with intervening ditches, a fortification type characteristic of Iron Age and early medieval settlement in Ireland. Such raths served as defended domestic and livestock enclosures for high-status families, with the dual rampart system indicating either construction during a period of intensified conflict or the status of its inhabitants. The site remains largely in agricultural land, preserving archaeological evidence of the settlement patterns and defensive strategies employed in prehistoric and early Christian period Ulster.

Bivallate rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12428. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Bivallate rath?

Bivallate rath is a bivallate hill fort located near Magherafelt in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12428.

What period does Bivallate rath date from?

Bivallate rath dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Bivallate rath?

Bivallate rath 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 12428.

What other scheduled monuments are near Bivallate rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone and burials (2 km), Rath (3.4 km), Rath (4.1 km).

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