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Counterscarp rath is a prehistoric earthwork located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site consists of a circular or oval enclosure defined by a bank and ditch system characteristic of Early Christian period raths, though the underlying earthwork may preserve evidence of earlier occupation. Raths of this type typically functioned as defended domestic settlements or farmsteads during the Early Christian period (roughly fifth to twelfth centuries AD) and would have accommodated a single family or small community. The monument's name derives from the counterscarp bank, the outer rampart formed by upcast material from the ditch, a feature common to many Irish hill forts and raths of this tradition.
Counterscarp rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2520. View the official record →
Counterscarp rath is a prehistoric earthwork located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2520.
Counterscarp 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.
Counterscarp 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 2520.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone (1.7 km), Rath (2.4 km), Standing stone (4.4 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Counterscarp rath