UNCERTAIN · HILLTOP ENCLOSURE

Large hilltop enclosure

Newry And Mourne, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 8856
Period
UNCERTAIN
Site type
HILLTOP ENCLOSURE
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Large hilltop enclosure is an uncertain hilltop enclosure located in the Newry and Mourne district of Northern Ireland. The monument comprises a substantial earthwork defence situated upon elevated terrain, though its precise dating and original function remain matters of archaeological interpretation. Such hilltop enclosures, where securely identified and dated, typically belong to the Iron Age or early medieval period in the Irish archaeological record, serving defensive or administrative purposes. The classification as uncertain reflects the absence of definitive archaeological investigation or diagnostic features that would permit confident assignment to a specific period or cultural context.

Large hilltop enclosure is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8856. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Large hilltop enclosure?

Large hilltop enclosure is an uncertain hilltop enclosure located in the Newry and Mourne district of Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8856.

What period does Large hilltop enclosure date from?

Large hilltop enclosure dates from the uncertain period, and is classified as a hilltop enclosure. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Large hilltop enclosure?

Large hilltop enclosure 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 8856.

What other scheduled monuments are near Large hilltop enclosure?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone (2 km), Stone faced rath - one of a pair with 051 (2.3 km), Stone faced rath - one of a pair with 051 (2.4 km).

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