Are Ringforts simple 'enclosed homesteads' or 'the residences of the aristocracy'?

Authors Avatar

Are Ringforts simple ‘enclosed homesteads’ (Edwards 1990, 11) or ‘the residences of the aristocracy’ (Mytum 1992, 131)? Use suitable evidence to support your answer.

The aim of this essay is to discuss the nature of the idea in relation to the main use and function of ringforts. Through adequate and suitable evidence this essay will analyse the idea of ringforts being merely perceived as just ‘enclosed homesteads’ or were they actually much more important perhaps being the ‘residences of the aristocracy’. Such examples are found in great numbers in Down and Antrim (Edwards 1990, 9). Due to the excess and huge numbers of ringforts found, many have went with the idea that ring forts are in fact just enclosed homesteads. For example in the area of Co. Down alone there is an amazing 1300 ringforts, while in Co. Donegal there have been 684 recorded (Edwards 1990,9). However one might look on it that because they were so popular they may have been very durable, long lasting and excellent for defence perhaps defence that the aristocracy could only afford (Mytum 1992,131, 132.).

        One of the main features to take into consideration is in fact the grand scale of ringforts that have been uncovered. Even though 60,000 ringforts have been discovered, excavation evidence has shown that by no means were all of these sites together inhabited at the same time (Mytum 1992, 32). This shows that it just may have been the aristocratic class who dwelled in these because there would have been a quite substantial less number of aristocrats in Celtic Ireland than those of the middle and lower classes. In fact sites such as Shewis in Armagh and that of Garryduff in Cork display no traces of human evidence (Mytum 1992, 132). Many ringforts such as the one at Clogher is far too large in size for it to act as an ‘enclosed homestead’. Ringforts this size were undoubtly ‘substantial centres for important people’ (McCormick 1995, Cows, Ringforts and the Origin of early Christian Ireland, 35).

Join now!

        It has to be said that the size of the ringfort in question determines the social position of those who inhabited them (Edwards 1990, 33). Also the discovered artefacts at the ringforts may also add to the fact that they were the homes of the aristocrats. Prestigious objects such as lignite bracelets, glass beads, spindle whorls and copper alloy ringed pins (Edwards 1990, 33). The ringfort at Garannes is a perfect example to illustrate that ringforts supported those who had access to riches and were most definitely members of the upper class. The artefacts uncovered here are even more ...

This is a preview of the whole essay