Hut site, Downmacpatrick, Co. Cork

Co. Cork |

Settlement Sites

Hut site, Downmacpatrick, Co. Cork

At Downmacpatrick on the Old Head of Kinsale, a monument is legally protected by a preservation order, yet there is nothing left to see.

The hut site recorded here exists, in practical terms, only on paper, its physical presence having vanished entirely from the ground. That a site can be simultaneously preserved in law and absent in fact is one of the quieter ironies of Irish archaeological heritage.

The site was recorded in 1983 by David Sweetman and Muiris de Buitléir of the National Monuments Service, working under the Office of Public Works. A hut site, in the archaeological sense, is typically a slight circular or oval depression, sometimes accompanied by low earthen banks or scattered stone, marking where a simple dwelling once stood. Such features can be prehistoric or early medieval in origin, and they are easily disturbed or erased by later land use. By the time an archaeological assessment was carried out in 2012 in connection with proposed works at the Old Head Golf Links, which occupies much of the headland, no trace of the feature remained on the ground.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Hut site, Downmacpatrick, Co. Cork. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement