80 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



the Shankill Road (see plate, fig. i). The rath still retains, 

 clearly defined, two encircling depressions, varying in depth 

 from two to four feet lower than the vallations, which are also 

 clearly defined. The central plain is eighty-five feet in diameter, 

 and the surrounding rampart is about eighteen inches higher 

 than the centre, and the trench is about four feet deep. The 

 whole diameter of the earth-works is one hundred and fifty-eight 

 feet. Dwelling-houses are built quite close to this, so it may 

 disappear at any moment. 



A very short distance west of this, in an adjoining brick- 

 field, is a much finer rath (see plate, fig. 2). The total diameter 

 of its earth-works is one hundred and eighty-eight feet, its 

 central plateau being one hundred and twenty-three feet, with 

 a surrounding bank three-and-a-half feet high, succeeded by a 

 trench five feet deep on the south side and seven on the north. 

 The succeeding bank is from one to three feet higher than this 

 trench, and can be clearly traced all round. 



The next rath is situated a couple of fields up the Forth 

 River, close to the house of a man called Rusk, and has almost 

 been destroyed by cultivation, but its form can still be clearly 

 traced. Its greatest height is about five feet, and its diameter 

 is about eighty one feet — the rampart can be traced for about 

 half the circumference. 



To the north of Ballysillan House, and in the grounds of 

 the same close to the Crumlin Road, remains a rath with part 

 of its entrenchments almost in their original state. The 

 diameter of the central plain only attains fifty-nine feet, part of 

 the surrounding bank is six feet high, whilst the trench on one 

 side attains a depth of twelve feet. The best part lies to the 

 north, whilst the south-west has been encroached upon by a 

 now ruined cottage. The diameter of the whole works is one 

 hundred and thirty-eight feet. 



The remains of a rath exist close to Glencairn (the residence 

 of Josias Cunningham, one of our members) ; the form alone 

 can be traced. Its diameter was about one hundred and twenty 

 feet, the rampart is about six feet high, but the trench has been 



