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Counterscarp rath is a ring fort of early Christian date located in County Down near Banbridge, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of a circular or oval enclosure defined by a substantial earthen bank and internal ditch, typical of the rath form that was prevalent in Ireland from the early medieval period onwards. Such raths functioned as enclosed homesteads and centres of local authority, and this example represents the archaeological evidence for settlement patterns during the early Christian period in Ulster. The site's name, derived from the fortification engineering term counterscarp, refers to the outer slope of the defensive ditch, suggesting a landscape where these monuments have long been recognized as significant archaeological features.
Counterscarp rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 7751. View the official record →
Counterscarp rath is a ring fort of early Christian date located in County Down near Banbridge, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 7751.
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 7751.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (6.6 km), Toberdoney. church (site of); graveyard, enclosure & holy well (7.1 km), Trivallate rath (7.8 km).
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Research the area around Counterscarp rath