... There is very little evidence of occupation of the ringforts as no houses have been found. As animal bones were found, the evidence suggests there was a cattle pen present. Large fields, which supported wheat, barley and oats, surround the ringfort, which are in turn surrounded by banks and ditches. The presence of the animal pen show that cattle were a key element in early medieval society both as economic currency and social status. According to Stout (1997), most Irish ringforts are of early Christian origin, originally constructed in the period 600-900 AD. However, most forts were occupied for long periods after this, and they remained one of the primary dwelling structures up to the 14th century, after which time fortified tower houses succeeded them. 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 ...

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