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Bivallate rath & possible souterrain is an Early Christian period ringfort located in the Ards peninsula, County Down, Northern Ireland. The monument comprises a defended residential enclosure defined by two concentric earthen banks, a characteristic typical of Irish raths dating from the early medieval period. The presence of a possible souterrain—an underground stone-built passage or chamber—suggests activity consistent with Early Christian settlement patterns, though definitive confirmation of the souterrain's existence and extent would require archaeological investigation. Such bivallate raths represent a more substantial class of ringfort, indicating the homestead of a person of some social standing during the Early Christian period.
Bivallate rath & possible souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6515. View the official record →
Bivallate rath & possible souterrain is an Early Christian period ringfort located in the Ards peninsula, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6515.
Bivallate rath & possible 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.
Bivallate rath & possible 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 6515.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ballygraffan dolmen. chambered tomb (2.2 km), Trivallate rath (2.6 km), Castle espie brickworks powder and explosives store. powder store, cf ihr 2781 (4 km).
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