Gibson, Paul
(2009)
Geophysical Investigation of the
Environs of Rattin Castle, Tower House,
County Westmeath,Ireland.
Archaeological Prospection, 16.
pp. 65-75.
ISSN 1075-2196
Abstract
No visible archaeological features are today associated with Rattin Castle Tower House in County
Westmeath,Ireland located near the boundary of the Pale, the area around Dublin and adjoining counties
where English control prevailed. However, both magnetic and resistance data show that Rattin
Castle was surrounded by a substantial bawn wall, which has since been removed. Interpretation of
two-dimensional resistivity shows a deep trench at the site of the bawn wall. A small (12 by 16m)
rectangular low-resistance anomaly located outside the northern section of the bawn wall but connected
to it, is interpreted as a possible gatehouse providing access to the castle.Less than 20m from
this anomaly, the course of an old military road is delineated by magnetic data but is seen most clearly
on the resistance data where it is represented by two parallel low-resistance anomalies 230m long.
This road is possibly older than the castle.Rattin is associated with an extensive network of subrectangular
field boundaries and enclosures,most noticeably west of the castle.The presence of the military
road, potential gatehouse, substantial bawn wall and geographical location all suggest that
Rattin Castle was an important strategic fortification in Ireland.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Rattin Castle; Tower House; resistance; magnetometry; two-dimensional resistivity; field
systems; Ireland; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography |
| Item ID: |
8808 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.345 |
| Depositing User: |
Paul Gibson
|
| Date Deposited: |
12 Sep 2017 14:29 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Archaeological Prospection |
| Publisher: |
Wiley |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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