Monaghan

Worm Ditch

The linear earthwork runs discontinuously east–west across the drumlin belt from the Finn River to just beyond the Bunnoe River for a projected distance of 9.85km. Four sections have been archaeologically investigated. In 1982 Aidan Walsh excavated a trench across a standing section of the monument at Aghareagh West and showed it to have consisted of two banks (7m and 4.8m wide) and two U-profiled ditches (4m wide by 2m deep and 2.7m wide by 1m deep), with a palisade slot-trench running parallel to its north side. Oak charcoal in the slot was dated to 370–55 cal. BC (UB-2600), whilst a charcoal (species unknown) sample from a possible plank in the north bank returned a date of 535–45 cal. BC (GrN-12616). The palisade trench was also noted and similarly dated by Aidan Walsh at Aghnaskew, by Roseanne Meenan at Lattacrossan and in a recent geophysical survey by Earthsound Geophysics at Corrinary, indicating that it might extend for at least 2.6km. The geophysical survey also suggested that the dyke, at least at Corrinary, may have been trivallate rather than bivallate. Antiquarian finds are said to have included a wooden bowl and mortised timbers in the northern ditch at Corrinary.

Maghernakill

A linear earthwork extends for 150m across a level pasture field, between a large bivallate enclosure (c. 150m in diameter) and a megalithic tomb.

Drumgristin

At Drumgristin a short (82m) section of linear earthwork of bank and ditch construction cuts off a loop in the Fane River to the south of Lough Ross.