This rectangular enclosure, measuring approximately 22.5 metres from north to south and 27.5 metres from east to west, represents a type of fortified settlement that was once common across Ireland during the medieval period. The site is defined by a fosse, or defensive ditch, that runs along its southern, western and northern sides, whilst the river itself forms a natural boundary to the east. The fosse measures about 4 metres wide and 0.4 metres deep today, though centuries of silting and agricultural activity have likely reduced its original dimensions.

Aerial photographs taken by the Irish Archaeological Survey reveal additional details invisible from ground level. A faint trace of what appears to be an outer fosse can be detected as a band of darker vegetation along the western side, and possibly the southern side as well, suggesting this site may have had multiple defensive rings; a feature that would have provided extra security for its medieval inhabitants. The photographs also show a rectangular feature measuring 5 by 7 metres in the northern half of the interior, which could represent the foundations of a building, perhaps the main dwelling or a storage structure.

Moated sites like this one at Shancarrigeen Or Oldrock typically date from the 13th to 14th centuries and were built by Anglo-Norman settlers or Gaelicised Norman families. These fortified farmsteads served as both defensive structures and status symbols, allowing their owners to control and farm the surrounding land whilst maintaining a secure base. The proximity to the Owenmore River would have provided a reliable water source, transportation route and an additional line of defence, making this an ideal location for medieval settlement.