In conversation with someone yesterday, I was given some brief details of a
feature located on their land. It has been viewed surveyed by the Co Tipp
County Archaeologist, who was 'very excited' by this site, which was 'unlike
anything else in Ireland'. Here's what I could make out:

Located in N. Co. Tipperary, north of Thurles, in an area with many ringforts,
sited intermediate between lowlands and hill slope. Egg-shaped enclosure 80m x
50m defined by earthen bank with no evidence of stone revetting etc. Height of
enclosing bank could not be established but likely around 1.5 - 2 metres.
Enclosing bank is, so far as I can discern, not accompanied by a ditch. Bank
shows signs of substantial collapse & is 5m + in depth at base & wide enough on
top to allow a horse & rider to canter with ease. So what? Try this: enclosed
area is a basin-shape, ie the whole makes up a structure similar in shape to an
egg-shaped dog-bowl. Within the enclosure is possible signs of a rectangular or
sub-rectangular hut (dimensions could not be established). Also within the
enclosure, at its lowest point is a hole. The area is, I guess, limestone-based
as there are many turloughs in the area including immediate vicinity & this hole
is, though never a source of upwelling water, at least 5m deep (no longer pole
could be found to poke down it). I suggested lowering a weigth on a string,
which will be tried this week. There is a suggestion (highly likely in my
opinion, going on the available evidence) that the hole and posibly some or much
of the surrounding enclosure is natural, ie a type of sinkhole. The enclosure,
though is certainly at least in part built. No other available details were
forthcoming, though I do hope to go take a look sometime in the week after next,
commitments allowing. The site, btw, is not listed in the county inventory, nor
(as far as I can tell) on any early OS maps.

The initial description I was given suggested a ring or other barrow which had
had the mound removed for building material, or bulldozed to level the ground.
The bank seems not to have suffered such treatment, though, and is steep enough
and substantial enough to be an 'obstruction' in itself, so this thought was
dropped. It's not a ringfort either, I think, as the hole seems like a feature
that would make ocupation dangerous... or parhaps not? Such a hole might afford
excellent drainage of the topsoil & thus make for a nice dry site? There is some
evidence that a hut of some sort existed there, also, though what sort I can't
tell. It has not been excavated, so I think we're talking medieval or later. NO
evidence that hut and enclosure are contremporary, of course, without dating
evidence. One option is to go for the uber-copout, ie 'ritual site', with the
hole being used for depositions perhaps? That might date things to MBA or LBA?
Or IA?

NOthing comes easily to mind other than that it might be a peculiar example of a
ringfort. UNtil I get a peek, I can't say more than that right now, though of
course any comments, theories, observations, parallels etc would be much
appreciated in the interim. I will endeavour (though it is currently hugely
troublesome to do so for me) to take and post some photos if/when I get to view.
If allowed by landowner, I'll also give the Disc. map No. & grid refs.

Stiof