Measuring approximately 35 metres from northeast to southwest and 29 metres from northwest to southeast, this geometric imprint becomes visible only under certain conditions, when variations in crop growth reveal the buried archaeology beneath. The enclosure features a distinctive entrance gap on its northwestern side, suggesting this was once a deliberately planned settlement or defensive structure from Ireland’s distant past.

The site at Derrygolan represents a fascinating example of how modern technology can unveil hidden chapters of Irish history. Cropmarks like these form when buried archaeological features affect the growth of crops above them; ancient ditches retain more moisture, producing lusher, darker vegetation, whilst stone foundations or compacted earth create drier conditions that stunt plant growth. This particular enclosure was identified through Google Earth aerial photographs taken on 26 June 2018, demonstrating how satellite imagery has become an invaluable tool for archaeological discovery. The rectangular shape and defined entrance suggest this may have been a ringfort, farmstead, or another type of enclosed settlement typical of early medieval Ireland.

What makes discoveries like Derrygolan particularly intriguing is that they often represent sites that have left no visible trace on the ground level, having been ploughed flat over generations of agricultural use. The moated sites and enclosed settlements scattered across the Irish midlands speak to a complex pattern of habitation, defence, and land management that evolved over millennia. Each cropmark enclosure adds another piece to the puzzle of how our ancestors lived, farmed, and protected themselves in a landscape that has been continuously occupied and reworked for thousands of years.