Ringforts - History Projects

We have been learning all about ringforts in Ireland and even got a chance to make some of our own.
Here is our report on them:

Ringforts

A ringfort was an Irish structure back in 500-900 CE. They were shaped like a ring, so that's how they got their name. The walls were mostly made out of earth and stone. It was made for protection back in the ancient times. There are over 60,000 ringforts in Ireland. Ringforts were also in the UK and in northern France.

A ringfort is a structure made from dirt, mud stones and sticks. They have different names depending on what they are made out of. They are called a ‘Rath’ or a ‘Lios’ if they are made from wood and they are called a ‘Caisel’ if they are made from stone.

There are a lot on the coasts of Ireland . As the years went on ringforts got bigger and were made out of better materials. 

They were a fortress used during war times for protection from upcoming attacks. Typically they had around four paths leading into the middle of the fort where the people would meet up or make food. Those forts were a huge help to people in need as it was a lot of protection to them and their families. 

Ringforts were a form of shelter and protection. Most of these were built so well that now hundreds of years later most of the structures are still standing all around Ireland . You can go to see most of these as they are now tourist attractions.