The investigation, carried out before modern development could begin, revealed four post-medieval cottages built from drystone walls, their foundations still telling stories of everyday life from centuries past. The cottages, constructed with clay floors and cobbled areas at their gable ends, represent the type of vernacular architecture common to rural Ireland during this period.

Three of the structures share similar dimensions, measuring approximately 15 metres by 5 metres. Structure 1 stands out with its internal division and well-preserved chimney embrasure, whilst Structure 2 appears to have been a simpler single-room dwelling. Structure 4, though no longer visible above ground, was discovered through excavation, complete with its fireplace still intact at the gable end. The most substantial building at the site stretches 18 metres north to south and 12 metres across, featuring multiple internal walls that suggest a more complex layout than its smaller neighbours.

The dating evidence proves particularly compelling; pottery sherds found beneath one of the walls point to construction during the 1600s, aligning perfectly with historical maps from the period. These humble dwellings at Rough Point offer a tangible connection to the families who once called this windswept corner of Donegal home, their drystone walls having weathered more than three centuries of Atlantic storms whilst preserving the footprint of a long-vanished community.