E.CHRIST. · RATH

Rath

Derry, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 12573
Period
E.CHRIST.
Site type
RATH
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Rath is a small ringfort located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The site consists of a circular or oval earthwork enclosed by a bank and ditch, a fortification type characteristic of the early medieval period in Ireland, typically dating between the fifth and twelfth centuries. Such raths served as defensive homesteads for farming families of middling social status and would originally have contained wooden structures within their enclosure. The monument represents an important category of archaeological evidence for understanding settlement patterns and social organisation in early Christian Ireland.

Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12573. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath?

Rath is a small ringfort located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12573.

What period does Rath date from?

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.

Who is responsible for protecting Rath?

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 12573.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cashel (1.1 km), Rath (1.1 km), Wedge tomb (1.2 km).

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