Carnagh West Ringfort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carnagh West Ringfort |
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| Native name Irish: Ráth na Carnaí Thiar |
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| Type | ringfort |
| Location | Carnagh West, Lecarrow, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Built | Stone Age (before 2000 BC) |
| Official name: Carnagh West | |
| Reference no. | 487 |
Carnagh West Ringfort is an ancient circular fort located in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is also recognized as a National Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by the country. This special place gives us clues about how people lived thousands of years ago.
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What is Carnagh West Ringfort?
Carnagh West Ringfort is a type of ancient settlement called a rath or ringfort. Imagine a large, circular area surrounded by strong walls or banks of earth. These were built long ago to protect people and their homes.
Where is it Located?
You can find Carnagh West Ringfort in a scenic part of County Roscommon. It sits right in the middle of two lakes: Lough Funshinagh and Lough Ree. This location might have been chosen for its natural defenses or access to water.
A Look Back in Time: Its History
This ringfort is incredibly old. Experts believe it was built during the Stone Age, which was a time before 2000 BC! That means it's more than 4,000 years old.
What is a Ringfort?
A ringfort was like a small, protected village. At Carnagh West, archaeologists have found the foundations of rectangular huts inside the circular walls. These were the homes where families lived. The ringfort here has "double-walling," meaning it had two layers of protective walls. This made it extra strong and safe from invaders or wild animals.
Life in the Stone Age
During the Stone Age, people used tools made of stone, bone, and wood. They were farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Living in a ringfort like Carnagh West would have provided safety and a sense of community for these early inhabitants. It shows how clever they were at building defenses with the materials they had.
The Name "Carnagh"
The name "Carnagh" comes from the Irish word carnach. This word means "abounding in heaps" or "full of cairns." A cairn is a pile of stones, often used as a monument or a landmark. The area around Carnagh West has many ringforts, which might explain why it was given this name – perhaps there were many stone structures or heaps in the past.
