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Counterscarp rath is an early Christian ringfort located near Ballymena in County Antrim. The monument consists of a circular earthwork with a notably steep outer bank, which gives it its distinctive name. This type of defensive domestic enclosure was characteristic of early medieval Irish settlement, typically occupied between the 5th and 12th centuries.
The rath sits upon bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks—ancient mafic lava flows and tuffs formed during volcanic activity around 60 million years ago. This geology has shaped the local landscape throughout the Ballymena area and would have influenced both the construction of the earthwork and the choice of this location for settlement. The underlying stone naturally supports the substantial banks required for such fortifications.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument under reference 2688 by the Historic Environment Division, recognising its importance as evidence of early Christian settlement patterns in north Antrim. Though no longer visible as obvious surface features, the rath's archaeological potential remains significant for understanding the territorial organisation and social structure of early medieval communities in this region.
Counterscarp rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2688. View the official record →
Counterscarp rath is an early Christian ringfort located near Ballymena in County Antrim. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2688.
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 2688.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tardree stone. standing stone (7.8 km), Giants grave. court tomb (8 km), Court tomb (8.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Counterscarp rath's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Counterscarp rath stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.