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Raised rath is a raised earthwork monument situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site likely dates to the early Christian period and represents either a rath—a fortified residential enclosure typical of early medieval Ireland—or a motte, the Norman-influenced mound-and-bailey form that became prevalent after the twelfth century. The monument occupies land underlain by Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lavas and tuffs that form part of the distinctive basaltic geology of the Antrim plateau. These ancient volcanic deposits have shaped the landscape for over sixty million years.
The raised earthwork would have functioned as a defensive settlement, its elevated position offering command of the surrounding terrain and enhanced security for the inhabitants and livestock within. The choice of this particular location reflects the practical considerations of early medieval or medieval settlers: proximity to water and cultivable land, combined with natural defensive advantages afforded by the underlying bedrock and topography.
The monument is now protected as a scheduled historic monument under reference 4072 by the Historic Environment Division, recognising its significance as evidence of settlement patterns and social organisation in early medieval or medieval Antrim. Such earthwork monuments are crucial to understanding the evolution of settlement and power structures across the Irish landscape during these formative periods.
Raised rath or motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 4072. View the official record →
Raised rath is a raised earthwork monument situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 4072.
Raised rath or motte dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rathpossible. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Raised rath or motte 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 4072.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tullyrusk fort. raised rath & plantation fort (4.9 km), The bohill stone, bochell stone, bowhill stone. round cairn & standing stone (4.9 km), Counterscarp rath (5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Raised rath or motte'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.
Raised rath or motte stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.