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Counterscarp rath is an Early Christian ring fort located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site comprises a circular earthwork with a characteristic counterscarp, a defensive feature consisting of an external bank positioned beyond the main ditch, which provided additional fortification to the enclosed settlement. Ring forts of this type were predominantly constructed during the Early Christian period, from approximately the fifth to twelfth centuries, serving as defended homesteads for farming families and minor nobility. The monument remains an important archaeological record of Early Christian settlement patterns and defensive strategies in Ulster.
Counterscarp rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2582. View the official record →
Counterscarp rath is an Early Christian ring fort located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2582.
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 2582.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (2 km), Standing stone (3.4 km), Megalithic tomb (3.9 km).
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Research the area around Counterscarp rath