Abstract
ONGOING DISCUSSIONS of the monuments commonly referred to as ‘ringforts’ in Ireland include the definition and investigation of specific types of these enclosures. Rectilinear, or subsquare, enclosures comprise one such type, with examples identifiable in the well-preserved archaeological landscape of the Burren (Co Clare) in western Ireland. It is also possible to extend such identification into the counties of the western seaboard, from Co Cork in the south to Co Donegal in the north. Questions of chronology, function, status, and cultural identity are addressed. Although a measure of variation may exist within the category of rectilinear enclosures, there is some uniformity of morphology and chronology and, perhaps, function.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the Heritage Council of Ireland, who funded initial phases of survey in the Burren, and the Royal Irish Academy, who supported the excavation of the rectilinear cashel. All excavation in Caherconnell townland was made possible by the support of John Davoren and family, who own the land. An anonymous donation to the discipline of Archaeology at National University of Ireland, Galway facilitated the completion of the survey work. Some of the images were provided by Joe Fenwick, Dr Paul Naessens and Dr Noel McCarthy. The author also wishes to thank the referees for their constructive suggestions.
Résumé
Des forts circulaires carrés? Une contribution à l’identification des types de fort circulaire par Michelle Comber
Les monuments couramment dénommés « forts circulaires », en Irlande, continuent à susciter des discussions en ce qui concerne notamment la définition de types spécifiques et l’étude de ces enceintes. On distingue entre autres un type particulier d’enceinte rectiligne, plus ou moins carrée, avec des exemples identifiables dans le paysage archéologique bien conservé du Burren, dans l’ouest de l’Irlande. Il est également possible d’élargir cette identification aux comtés du littoral occidental, du comté de Cork au sud, jusqu’au Donegal au nord. Les questions de chronologie, de rôle, de statut et d’identité culturelle sont évoquées. Bien qu’il puisse y avoir des variations au sein de la catégorie d’enceintes rectilignes, on peut discerner une certaine uniformité en termes de morphologie et de chronologie et, éventuellement, de rôle.
Zussamenfassung
Quadratische Ringforts? Ein Beitrag zur Identifikation von “Ringfort”-Typen von Michelle Comber
Zur laufenden Auseinandersetzung mit den in Irland gemeinhin als „Ringforts “bezeichneten Monumenten zählt auch die Definition und Erforschung spezifischer Anlagentypen. Geradlinige oder nahezu quadratische Anlagen stellen einen solchen Typ dar, und Beispiele dafür finden sich in der archäologisch gut erhaltenen Landschaft des Burren in Westirland. Die Identifikation dieses Anlagentyps lässt sich auch auf die Grafschaften der Westküste ausdehnen, von Co. Cork im Süden bis zu Co. Donegal im Norden. Fragen zu Chronologie, Funktion, Status und kultureller Identität werden diskutiert. Innerhalb der Kategorie der geradlinigen Anlagen mag es zwar gewisse Variationen geben, Morphologie, Chronologie und eventuell auch Funktion weisen jedoch ein gewisses Maß an Einheitlichkeit auf.
Riassunto
Forti ad anello quadrati? Un contributo per l’identificazione dei tipi di ‘forti ad anello’ di Michelle Comber
I dibattiti in corso riguardo ai monumenti comunemente denominati ‘forti ad anello’ in Irlanda comprendono la definizione e la ricerca di tipi specifici di questi terreni cintati. Uno di questi tipi è formato da recinzioni rettilinee o sottoquadro, con esempi identificabili nel ben conservato paesaggio archeologico della regione del Burren nell’Irlanda occidentale. Si può anche estendere questa classificazione alle contee della fascia costiera occidentale, da quella di Cork a sud a quella di Donegal a nord. Vengono prese in considerazione questioni riguardanti la cronologia, la funzione, lo status e l’identità culturale. Nonostante ci possano essere in parte delle variazioni entro la categoria delle recinzioni rettilinee, esiste una certa uniformità morfologica e cronologica e, forse, funzionale.
Notes
2 Early medieval period in Ireland is from the 5th to 12th century ad.
39 Laing Citation1975, 91. See, for example the 3rd-century Romano-British settlement at Dunston’s Clump, Nottinghamshire, where a subrectangular ditch enclosed a number of rectangular timber buildings (Welch Citation1992, 39).
49 Eight such examples are listed by O’Sullivan et al Citation2014, 108-9.
65 Irish Sites and Monuments Record number CL009-059064.
78 ‘local epithets’, RCAHMW 1937, xxxvi.
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