E.CHRIST. · RATH & SOUTERRAIN

Rath & souterrain

Newry And Mourne, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 6136
Period
E.CHRIST.
Site type
RATH & SOUTERRAIN
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Rath and souterrain is an Early Christian enclosed settlement situated in the Newry and Mourne district of Northern Ireland. The site comprises a defensive earthwork enclosure typical of the Early Christian period, accompanied by a souterrain, an underground stone-built passage structure characteristic of Iron Age and Early Christian settlement patterns in Ireland. Such monuments functioned as residential and defensive complexes, with the souterrain serving purposes including storage, refuge, or ritual use within the broader settlement hierarchy. The combination of rath and souterrain represents an important category of archaeological evidence for Early Christian settlement and land use in Ulster.

Rath & souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6136. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath & souterrain?

Rath and souterrain is an Early Christian enclosed settlement situated in the Newry and Mourne district of Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6136.

What period does Rath & souterrain date from?

Rath & souterrain dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath & souterrain. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Rath & souterrain?

Rath & souterrain 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 6136.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath & souterrain?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath & souterrain (0.5 km), Rath (0.7 km), Rath & ?souterrain (1.2 km).

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