They were recorded in the archaeological literature decades ago, their approximate position noted, their dimensions measured. And yet, as things stand, their precise location on the ground remains unconfirmed. They are known sites that are, in a practical sense, lost.

The archaeologist M. J. O'Kelly documented both features in 1944, describing them as cirque-like hollows, meaning roughly amphitheatre-shaped depressions, cut into the hillside slope. One is semi-circular in plan, the other sub-rectangular, and both open to the west while their remaining sides are formed largely by natural rock. The larger of the two measures about 6.7 metres across; the smaller runs to roughly 4.85 metres by 2.5 metres, with the rock cut to a depth of around one metre at the back and sides where the ground was highest. In at least one case, traces of rough stone walling survive along the edge of the hollow. What makes the pair particularly intriguing is O'Kelly's note that immediately behind each hut site there runs what he described as an ancient fence, suggesting these were not isolated shelters but part of some broader arrangement of enclosure or land use. Hut sites of this kind, where natural rock is shaped and supplemented with dry-stone construction to create a sheltered living or working space, are found in upland areas across Ireland, though they are rarely as neatly paired as these appear to be.

Anyone hoping to locate these features would be working against the grain. The record compiled by Edmond O'Donovan and uploaded in November 2020 makes clear that their position has not been confirmed on the ground, which means a visit to Knockfennell would amount to a genuine search rather than a straightforward walk to a marked point. The hillside itself would reward careful attention to the rock outcrops and natural contours of the slope, particularly on any westward-facing section where shallow depressions or remnant walling might catch the eye. Low-raking light in the early morning or late afternoon is often useful for picking out subtle earthworks and cut features that disappear in flat midday conditions.