Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandBallymenaThe swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields
UNCERTAIN · ENCLOSURE

The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields

Ballymena, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 2261
Period
UNCERTAIN
Site type
ENCLOSURE
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

The Swine Craes is an uncertain enclosure located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site comprises a raised rath with associated enclosure features and ancient field systems, though its precise chronological attribution and functional purpose remain unclear from the surviving archaeological evidence. Such raised raths are typically Iron Age or early medieval in date, though without excavation the specific period of occupation cannot be definitively established. The surviving earthworks preserve evidence of a defended or enclosed settlement pattern characteristic of early Irish settlement archaeology, representing the broader landscape of prehistoric and early medieval land use in the region.

The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2261. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields?

The Swine Craes is an uncertain enclosure located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2261.

What period does The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields date from?

The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields dates from the uncertain period, and is classified as a enclosure. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields?

The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields 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 2261.

What other scheduled monuments are near The swine craes. raised rath, enclosure & ancient fields?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Counterscarp rath (6.2 km), Ancient field system, including rath & 2 round cairns (c.f. 038 (6.8 km), Grahamstown. mound (7.7 km).

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