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Two conjoined raths is an early Christian earthwork monument situated in Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland. A rath is a small, fortified farmstead consisting of one or more circular or oval enclosures defined by banks and ditches, typically dating to the Iron Age or early medieval period. This example comprises two ringworks joined together, a configuration that may reflect an expansion of the original settlement or the simultaneous enclosure of separate functions within a single defended complex.
The monument stands on bedrock of Late Silurian to Early Devonian age, comprising a felsic igneous intrusion formed in the Early Devonian. This geology of harder igneous rock would have presented significant challenges to whoever constructed the earthworks, as the digging of ditches and raising of banks required working through or around the underlying stone. The resulting earthworks are therefore a testament to considerable labour investment in securing this particular location.
The site is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 8591. Early Christian raths of this type, with their characteristic earthen defences, represent a crucial phase in Irish settlement history, when small farming communities sought both security and status through these modest but labour-intensive constructions. The conjoined layout of this particular example indicates a settlement pattern of some complexity within its local landscape.
Two conjoined raths is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8591. View the official record →
Two conjoined raths is an early Christian earthwork monument situated in Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8591.
Two conjoined raths 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.
Two conjoined raths 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 8591.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bagnal's castle. tower-house (6 km), Templegowran. church (in ruins) & graveyard (6.1 km), Souterrain & ?cashel (6.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Two conjoined raths'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.
Two conjoined raths stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.