This circular earthwork, typical of settlements built between the 6th and 12th centuries, would have served as a fortified farmstead for a local family. The site consists of a raised circular area surrounded by an earthen bank and external ditch, defensive features that were standard for these rural homesteads. Archaeological surveys have documented the fort’s dimensions and preserved features, with detailed analysis available in O’Sullivan and Sheehan’s comprehensive study of Kerry’s archaeological heritage.

Ringforts like this one at Bawn were the most common type of settlement across Ireland during the early medieval period, with thousands still visible in the landscape today. These enclosed farmsteads housed extended families along with their livestock, crops and possessions. The circular design wasn’t just practical for defence; it also reflected social status, with larger, more elaborate ringforts belonging to wealthier families. The banks would have been topped with wooden palisades, whilst the interior contained timber or wattle and daub buildings for living quarters, storage and craft activities.

The site at Bawn forms part of Kerry’s rich archaeological landscape, which includes everything from prehistoric stone circles to medieval castles. Its survival allows modern visitors to connect with a way of life that dominated rural Ireland for centuries. The Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry, published in 2009 and subsequently updated with recent research findings, provides the most current scholarly assessment of this and other sites throughout the region, ensuring that these glimpses of the past remain accessible for future generations to study and appreciate.