Westropp — The Fort of Dun Aengusa in Imshmoru, Aran. 17 



base in 1854, as in 187S. Such firm-set bottom steps often survive the wall 

 and the upper steps. Two such llights were recently uncovered by us in 

 Caherminaun. There is one in Ballyshanny caher, and we find two more in 

 Caherfeenagh fort, in Clare. In Dunoghil the remains of two such flights 

 were not restored in 1884-5, one to the north of the gateway, at the ground- 

 level (its other steps are used in the circular "thing "then built in the 

 garth), the other above the south-east stair. In the Black Fort are sloping 

 joints, evidently remains of two unrestored sidelong flights near the huts. 

 The steps in Dun Aenghus are exactly like the untouched examples. The 

 allegations about the supposed sunken way in the top of the rampart 

 rest on a mistaken reading of O'Donovan's Letter of 18.39, the " internal 

 division " meaning in his letter the banquette inside the rampart. 



As to the age of the fort, worked implements of chert and flint have been 

 found in it, and also bronze ornaments, one probably later than the fifth 

 century. The comparatively small sharp masonry gives less impression of 

 age than the large Ijlocks, well-marked batter, and (as a rule) lower walls on 

 the forts on the mainland iu Mayo, Clare, and Galway. The blocks of the 

 wall are not as weather-worn as those in the ramparts of Moghane and the 

 'Cahercarbery forts on Kerry Head. It is hard to believe that walls so 

 slightly battered aie of vast age as they stand ; but the inception of the fort 

 and the collection of the material may date far back in the past. The 

 chevaux de frise, with the evident channelling of the tops of its pillars, is 

 probably very early; but we have seen reason to believe that the walls 

 have been extensively rebuilt in the past ; and perhaps this was done when 

 repairs were required, on several occasions, long before the restoration of 

 1884. 



The inroads of the sea give us no measure of its age. We have no reason 

 to assert that its circles were either complete rings or crescents at first. It 

 may have stood (like Dun Oghil) on a hill-side, or have been built (like 

 Cahercommaim), adapted to an already existing clifl', though, of course, the 

 cliff stood much farther southwards in the earlier times. Its advanced plan 

 may have grown up gradually from a simple beginning, though we agree with 

 Dr. Guebhard- that its skilful construction, terraces, and steps imply the work 

 of builders with long and experienced traditions to guide them ; but these 

 accomplished masons were probably rebuilders ; and the original fort may 

 have been as rude and simple as some of the ring-walls of Clare and 

 Kerry. 



' "Age of Dun Aenghus " Dr. CoUey March. Proc. Soc. Ant., London, vol. xv., ser. ii., p. 226. 

 - Prehist. Congres iii., Autun, 1907, " Lii atructui-e relutivement compliquee, certainement 

 attribuable a une humanite deja passablement eloignee de ses origines," p. 99S. 



E.l.A. I'KUC, VllL. .\XV1II. SliCT. 0, [3] 



