A ringfort is an early medieval farmstead enclosed by a circular stone wall or earthen bank, each said to hold approximately twenty to sixty people, depending on size. Sometimes more than one bank or wall is seen, and so, different types of ringforts have been grouped. Those with one bank or wall are called univallate, those with two, bivallate and those with three, trivallate. The remains of thousands of ringforts can be found all over Ireland. Their distribution is widespread, generally preferring well drained lowland locations, avoiding peat lands and uplands. The interior diameter can range from fifty feet to over two hundred. Sometimes an artificial mound has been created at the interior, possibly for defensive viewing of the surrounding landscape. There may also be an underground passage and room, possibly for food storage. The entrance to these monuments were just gaps in the embankment. The original houses and outbuildings in the interior were mostly built of material that has not survived such as wood, wattle and straw (Edwards 1990) Cashels are basically the same as ringforts except that they are surrounded by walls rather than earthen embankments. The quarrying and or the collecting of suitable stone, its transport and skill need to build such monuments made it a more expensive alternative to an earthen ringfort. They were also restricted to places where such stone was readily available, namely western parts of Ireland.
Hillforts are very similar to ringforts, differing only in that they are sited on hills and use the natural slope as an addition to the embankments. Promontory forts incorporate the local topography into their building, needing only a wall or embankment on the side that is accessible. Crannogs were situated on or beside lakes. Timber was used for palisades, foundations and building structures. These are seen as wetland equivalents to the ringforts. The major difference between the two is the crannogs population depending heavily on fishing rather than agriculture or pastoral farming to survive (O’Sullivan 1998).
The term ‘fort’ is not exactly accurate in the military sense as it seems that ringforts were more likely to have been used as farmsteads for which the embankments and wooden palisades served as enclosures for domestic animals and protection against wild animals. The scale and complexity of the bank or wall may also have served as an indicator of the occupier’s status.
The largest concentration of ringforts in Ireland is situated in the Burren, Co. Clare some numbering it at as large as five hundred. According to Cotter (1999) this distribution of ringforts clearly shows a pastoral focus, with ‘ the greatest concentration of these forts occurring in sheltered locations either up on a plateaus or on the terraces along their margins’ Though the Burren is synonymous with the stone fort, there are also a number of earthen forts situated in the low-lying areas where soil was more readily available. Examples of these are An Rath at Ballyalaban, Dun Torpa and Tullagh fort. Cahercommaun is arguably the most well known trivallate fort, located in the heart of the Burren. The date of construction of the fort is said to be around 800 AD. According to Hencken(1938) an area of one hundred hectares was farmed by a community of between forty to fifty. In light of this evidence it seems likely that the society was based on the family unit rather than the individual. Evidence of farm walls suggests the economy of these communities was base largely on agriculture. The people’s ability to manufacture wool also came into light with the discovery of a spindle-whorl. Evidence of pastoral farming also exists with remains of mostly cattle but also sheep, goat horses and red deer.
Tara Hill was the most venerated religious area in early Ireland and known to have become the seat of the High kings for a number of centuries. It contains a number of early monuments, including ringforts which emphasise the important role they played in early Irish society. Inside the bank and ditch of the royal Enclosure stand two linked ringforts known as the Royal Seat and the Forradh. The latter is a bivallate ringfort of earthen type. In its centre stands the Stone of Destiny, the most phallic symbol of ancient Ireland, as it is said to be the stone of the coronation of the kings of Ireland. Another ringfort is located to the south, known as the Fort of King Laoghaire, where it is said that the dead king was buried upright to face his enemies advancing. The use of ringforts for such a ritual purpose outlines the significantly important role these monuments took in early medieval Ireland.
Dun Aengus, situated on the Aran Islands is an excellent example of the use of stone in Irish ringfort construction. The fort consists of three irregular semicircles backed by a three hundred foot cliff falling off to the Atlantic Ocean. As well as the three separate walls, stones have been closely packed and distributed at an angle to undermine an attack up the slope. The inner wall of this fort is an amazing eighteen feet high and thirteen feet thick. The sheer man power needed for such a feet emphasises the importants people placed on the construction of these forts. It is yet unclear why Dun Aengus was chosen for such a site as there is no water supply and no evidence of housing. Without a proper water supply the fort would not have been suitable for a long siege, despite all its grandeur.
There is no doubt that ringforts played an important role in early medieval Ireland society. As we have seen it was primarily used for agricultural purposes, aiding in the domestication of animals. People went to great expense to construct these monuments, especially those made from stone which must have acted as a symbol of high status among the community and surrounding land. We also notice the important role ringforts played in ritual life, being the holder of the believed Stone of Destiny and also holding the remains of a deceased king. Infact the sheer number of these forts in Ireland is its own example of their importance.
Bibliography
Edwards, N. 1990 The archaeology of early medieval Ireland, Batsford
Stout, M. 1997 The Irish ringfort. Dublin
O,Sullivan, A. 1998 The archaeology of lake settlement in Ireland, Dublin
Discuss the role of ringforts in the settlements of early medieval Ireland
Daragh Stewart
