A Statistical Analysis of Ringfort Distribution and Morphology on the ...

Preface to the 1998 edition
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This study <strong>of</strong> the ringforts <strong>of</strong> the Loop Head peninsula is presented in two parts. The first comprises
eight chapters detailing the research <strong>and</strong> analyses undertaken, the second being a series <strong>of</strong> four
gazetteers detailing the 244 known, presumed <strong>and</strong> suspected ringforts within the study area.
Chapter 1 presents a general introduction to the study area <strong>and</strong> outlines the research aims addressed
<strong>and</strong> the methods employed. A general review <strong>of</strong> the course <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape archaeology in Britain <strong>and</strong>
Irel<strong>and</strong> is also presented, with special reference to the statistical studies <strong>of</strong> ringforts. Chapter 2
details the availability <strong>of</strong> both published <strong>and</strong> unpublished research material for the ringforts <strong>of</strong> the
Loop Head area, including maps, research papers <strong>and</strong> photographic collections. This chapter also
includes a review <strong>of</strong> the field survey <strong>and</strong> assesses its completeness. Chapter 3 examines the physical
environment <strong>of</strong> the study area, including the relief <strong>and</strong> drainage, climate, soils <strong>and</strong> vegetation.
Chapter 4 presents a general review <strong>of</strong> ringfort morphology, function <strong>and</strong> dating, with special
reference to the ringforts <strong>of</strong> the Loop Head peninsula. This is followed by Chapter 5, in which the
surveyed data is examined using both univariate <strong>and</strong> bivariate statistical techniques. These include
the use <strong>of</strong> various forms <strong>of</strong> correlation, along with nearest neighbour analysis <strong>and</strong> the chi-square test.
The completeness <strong>of</strong> the known distribution is then assessed. In the case <strong>of</strong> nearest neighbour
analysis, an attempt is also made to introduce destroyed <strong>and</strong> unclassified earthworks along with
ecclesiastical centres <strong>and</strong> other sites <strong>of</strong> possibly contemporary date into the equation in an attempt to
examine the fullest possible Early Christian l<strong>and</strong>scape. The statistical approach is continued in
Chapter 6 when the data is subjected to the multivariate approach <strong>of</strong> cluster analysis. The aim <strong>of</strong> this
chapter is to formulate a basic, hierarchical classification scheme for the ringforts <strong>of</strong> the Loop Head
peninsula. The use <strong>of</strong> cluster analysis resulted in the derivation <strong>of</strong> five groups or ‘clusters’ <strong>of</strong> ringforts
which were then examined in detail. In an attempt to explore the archaeological validity <strong>of</strong> these
clusters, the data was examined using principal components analysis <strong>and</strong> these results tested using
computer-intensive r<strong>and</strong>omisation tests <strong>of</strong> significance. Chapter 7 attempts to reconstruct the Early
Christian patterns <strong>of</strong> settlement <strong>and</strong> society for the study area. This is based on the results <strong>of</strong> the
statistical analyses conducted in Chapters 5 <strong>and</strong> 6; combined with the information available from the
corpus <strong>of</strong> Early Christian literature, chiefly the Críth Gablach. Finally, in Chapter 8, a general
summation is given, conclusions are drawn <strong>and</strong> the limitations <strong>of</strong> the research are assessed. Areas <strong>of</strong>
future research are also identified.
Volume 2 contains the gazetteer <strong>of</strong> ringforts which consists <strong>of</strong> 155 separate entries (1 to 155),
describing each site individually. In the case <strong>of</strong> two sites or monuments on or near the same site
appropriate cross references are provided in the inventory, which is arranged in the alphabetical order
by townl<strong>and</strong> name. Ancient enclosures that deviate from the basic ringfort form, such as the
enclosure at Rahona West (173), which appears to exhibit part <strong>of</strong> an internal fosse, have also been
excluded from this category <strong>and</strong> are included in a second gazetteer <strong>of</strong> unclassified enclosures that
may have been ringforts (156 to 173). In case <strong>of</strong> the latter this was decided on the basis that they
form such a small proportion <strong>of</strong> the total number <strong>of</strong> enclosures that it would appear unwise to
attempt to explain them as casual aberrations on the st<strong>and</strong>ard ringfort outline. This is followed by
gazetteers <strong>of</strong> destroyed sites which may have been ringforts (174 to 208) <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> potential sites
known from aerial photography (209 to 244).
The headings <strong>of</strong> the descriptions in the inventory are arranged as follows: the inventory number is
followed by the townl<strong>and</strong> name, both in bold type. In the case <strong>of</strong> a monument having a known name,
it is included on the same line, also in bold type. When referred to within the text the inventory
numbers are displayed in bold type within curved brackets, thus: (**). On the following line the
abbreviation OS (Ordnance Survey) is suffixed by the number <strong>of</strong> the six-inch sheet, the twenty-five
inch map <strong>and</strong> the field trace (See. Map 2.1), <strong>and</strong> followed by the altitude <strong>of</strong> the site, in feet, by
reference to the Ordnance Datum (OD). The altitude <strong>of</strong> the sites <strong>and</strong> monuments has been
determined in the following way: when a specific altitude is recorded it has been taken from the
Ordnance Survey sheet either as a spot height on, or very near, the site or when the site actually
rests on a contour line, or as a trigonometrical point. In cases where none <strong>of</strong> the above were feasible
the sites’ altitude is given as the general contour bracket within which the monument is located. The
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