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Crannog at Moyle is a reconstructed early Christian dwelling site situated on the bedrock of Palaeogene extrusive rocks that underlie this part of Northern Ireland. These volcanic mafic lavas and tuffs, formed millions of years before human settlement, provided a stable foundation for the ancient inhabitants who chose this location. The crannog represents the tradition of lacustrine settlement that flourished in Ireland during the early Christian period, when communities built their domestic structures on artificial or semi-artificial islands in lakes and wetlands.
The site is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 517, recognising its significance as evidence of early medieval settlement patterns and construction techniques. Crannogs of this period typically served as farmsteads or small communal centres, offering defensive advantages and access to water resources. The Moyle crannog contributes to understanding how early Christian communities in Ulster adapted their environment and organised their domestic life during a formative period of Irish history.
Crannog is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 517. View the official record →
Crannog at Moyle is a reconstructed early Christian dwelling site situated on the bedrock of Palaeogene extrusive rocks that underlie this part of Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 517.
Crannog dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a crannog. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Crannog 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 517.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ballylough castle, baile-an-locha. castle (remains of) (0.2 km), Standing stone (1.6 km), Derrykeighan church, darkehan, old church, derrykeighan old church. derrykeighan church - post medieval ruins on site of medieval parish church & pre-norman site. also la tene decorated stone (3.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Crannog'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.
Crannog stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.