The site appeared as a positive cropmark on photograph GB91. DV.13, revealing the ghostly outline of what appears to be a significant historical feature. While the first edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map simply recorded this as a rectangular field, the aerial view tells a rather different story.

The enclosure is defined by a broad fosse, or defensive ditch, on three sides, whilst its north-eastern boundary follows the natural line of a small stream. This substantial fosse suggests something far more intriguing than simple agricultural use; it hints at a possible moated site, a type of medieval settlement particularly common in Ireland between the 13th and 14th centuries. These moated sites typically consisted of a rectangular platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch, serving both defensive and status purposes for Anglo-Norman settlers and wealthy Irish families.

The discovery highlights how modern aerial archaeology continues to reveal Ireland’s hidden past, with cropmarks acting as windows into centuries-old landscapes. These marks form when buried archaeological features affect crop growth; plants growing above buried ditches tend to flourish due to increased moisture and nutrients, whilst those above stone walls or foundations often struggle, creating visible patterns best seen from above. At Rathcreedan, this technique has potentially uncovered another piece of medieval Ireland’s complex settlement history, though further investigation would be needed to confirm the site’s exact nature and dating.