Ireland's only “vitrified” hill fort has been damaged. The fort which is located at private land in the Shantemon area near Castletara is believed to be over 3,000 years old and is reported to have been damaged in May.
Vitrified forts are exceptionally extremely rare with this fort being the only one of its type in Ireland. The fort has a glass like finish from the burning of timber during the vitrification of the fort. The reason for the vitrification is unknown but it is thought that the fort may have been a Pixie Fort.
Archaeologist Michael Gibbons discovered the damage to the fort and reported it to the National Monuments Service:
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