Are Ringforts simple ‘enclosed homesteads’

The aim of this essay is to discuss the nature of the idea in relation to the main use and function of ringforts. Through adequate and suitable evidence this essay will analyse the idea of ringforts being merely perceived as just 'enclosed homesteads' or were they actually much more important perhaps being the 'residences of the aristocracy'.

Such examples are found in great numbers in Down and Antrim (Edwards 1990, 9). Due to the excess and huge numbers of ringforts found, many have went with the idea that ring forts are in fact just enclosed homesteads. For example in the area of Co.Down alone there is an amazing 1300 ringforts, while in Co. Donegal there have been 684 recorded (Edwards 1990,9).

However one might look on it that because they were so popular they may have been very durable, long lasting and excellent for defence perhaps defence that the aristocracy could only afford (Mytum 1992,131, 132. ). One of the main features to take into consideration is in fact the grand scale of ringforts that have been uncovered. Even though 60,000 ringforts have been discovered, excavation evidence has shown that by no means were all of these sites together inhabited at the same time (Mytum 1992, 32).

This shows that it just may have been the aristocratic class who dwelled in these because there would have been a quite substantial less number of aristocrats in Celtic Ireland than those of the middle and lower classes. In fact sites such as Shewis in Armagh and that of Garryduff in Cork display no traces of human evidence (Mytum 1992, 132). Many ringforts such as the one at Clogher is far too large in size for it to act as an 'enclosed homestead'. Ringforts this size were undoubtly 'substantial centres for important people' (McCormick 1995, Cows, Ringforts and the Origin of early Christian Ireland, 35).

It has to be said that the size of the ringfort in question determines the social position of those who inhabited them (Edwards 1990, 33). Also the discovered artefacts at the ringforts may also add to the fact that they were the homes of the aristocrats. Prestigious objects such as lignite bracelets, glass beads, spindle whorls and copper alloy ringed pins (Edwards 1990, 33). The ringfort at Garannes is a perfect example to illustrate that ringforts supported those who had access to riches and were most definitely members of the upper class.The artefacts uncovered here are even more luxurious including pieces of glass vessels that were accompanied by works of again, copper alloy. This definitely is an aristocratic site as there is there is wealthy items present, plus there is the evidence of substantial works being carried out by skilled craftsmen (Edwards 1990, 33).

In the north east parts of Ireland such as Armagh and Down there is a great amount of archaeological to show that ringforts were in fact refurbished and rebuilt. The ringforts that had their ditches and banks rebuilt more than once were most definitely owned by the aristocracy. (Mytum 1992 123-124).We know this because the base clients acted as servants to the aristocracy. It was those who rebuilt the ringforts.

The platform ring forts that were constructed were built by constantly adding to the banks. The higher the banks and deeper the ditches meant that it was only that of the elite aristocracy who dwelled in those ringforts (Mytum 1992, 125-126). Some ringforts would have been situated on high ground where visibility would have been excellent. Drumlins acted as a very prominent position.

Having a ringfort built on high ground indicated to others the people living there had status, wealth and power.Such an example would be at Garranes in Cork (Edwards 1990,11-12). So far in this essay I have looked at the view that ringforts were the settlements of the aristocracy. I will now discuss and analyse the statement that they were in fact just "enclosed homesteads". The ringforts were also just occupied by the lower social class and the smaller the ringfort the lower the social class those were that lived there. The majority of ringforts show us that they were home to single family dwellers who occupied quite small farmsteads (Stout 1997, 32).

Also some ringforts display signs that there was no occupation at all. Ringforts that were used as farmsteads were sites such as Garryduff 2 in Cork (Stout 1997, 33) and Lisnavaragh in Down. In Lasnagade in Down we see that there was a ringfort uncovered that displays signs of occupation but then seemed to have been abandoned and used as an animal shelter. Also because of the huge number of ringforts found on the irish landscape (1300 in Down) it would be difficult to imagine that they were only used to house the aristocracy.There surely would have not been that many people who were of the aristocratic class (Edwards 1990, 11- 12).

The majority of the Irish ringforts found across the Irish landscape are for the most part not very spectacular and appear to be not very spectacular sites in any way. They display the image of just being ordinary simple homesteads where the small farmer would have lived (Stout 1997, 11). The local aristocracy who would have been seen as the most important groups in the community, their residences would have needed to be able to resist military attacks.However ringforts by no means were "not forts in the accepted military sense" (Edwards 1990, 12). As the majority of Irish ringforts were built on good arable and fertile land that would be good for agriculture, meant that it would have been the ordinary peasants of rural Ireland who tended to occupy them. In Skibbereen in Cork the vast number of ringforts were situated on decent agricultural land (Edwards 1990, 20).

In conclusion it should be said that ringforts were both "residences of the aristocracy" (Mytum 1992, 131) as well as being simple "enclosed homesteads" (Edwards 1990, 11).There is sufficient evidence to support both points of view. Ringforts such as that at Garranes in Cork was clearly of the aristocratic classdue to the precious ornaments uncovered. But the smaller ones where no artefacts have been found suggest just simple homesteads.

These earthen enclosures were quite simple and they held residence to both the ordinary small farmers of Ireland as well as the highest kings in Ireland (Stout 1997, 11). In this essay I have analysed and discussed both of the separate viewpoints with references made to various examples right across the Irish landscape.