Staigue stone fort facts for kids
Staigue (pronounced "Stag") is an amazing old stone fort found in County Kerry, Ireland. It's like a giant, circular stone castle built a very long time ago! People think it was constructed during the late Iron Age, probably between the years 300 and 400 AD. It was likely a strong, safe place for an important local leader or king to live and protect themselves.
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What is Staigue Fort?
Staigue Fort is a special type of ancient building called a ringfort. Imagine a huge, round wall made entirely of stones, without any cement! This fort is located in a beautiful valley that looks out towards the sea. It's surrounded by a wide ditch, which was part of its defense system.
How Big is Staigue Fort?
The walls of Staigue Fort are incredibly tall and thick. In some places, they reach up to 5.5 meters (about 18 feet) high. At the bottom, the walls are about 4 meters (13 feet) thick, making them very strong. The whole fort is about 27.4 meters (90 feet) across.
How Was Staigue Fort Built?
Building Staigue Fort was a huge achievement for the people back then. They used large, natural stones without shaping them much, and they didn't use any mortar (like modern cement) to hold them together! The stones fit together perfectly, showing how skilled the builders were.
- No Mortar: The builders carefully stacked the stones so they would stay in place on their own.
- Special Joints: You can see vertical lines in the walls where gaps were left during construction. These gaps probably allowed workers to move around, and they were filled in later.
- Clever Entrance: The fort has a special entrance that is 1.8 meters (about 6 feet) long. It's covered with two big stones, one on top of the other, like a roof.
Inside the Fort Walls
If you go inside the fort, you'll find a cool network of stairways. These stairs lead up to different levels or "terraces" within the wall. There are also small, hidden rooms called "corbelled cells" built into the wall itself, which you can reach through passages. These might have been storage areas or small shelters.
What Was Staigue Fort Used For?
Historians and archaeologists believe Staigue Fort had several important uses:
- Defense: Its strong walls and deep ditch made it an excellent place to defend against enemies.
- Worship: It might have been a place where people held religious ceremonies or rituals.
- Observatory: Some experts think it could have been used to watch the stars or track the sun, like an ancient observatory.
- Resource Hub: There's also evidence that people dug for copper in the areas around the fort. This suggests it was an important center for resources.
Staigue Fort is a fantastic example of ancient Irish engineering and a reminder of the clever people who lived there long ago!
