Ringforts (in Irish, ráth, lios or caiseal) are the most commonly occurring archaeological monument in Ireland. There are at least 40,000 of them, and recent estimates suggest there may have been over 50,000. They mainly date to the period 600 to 900 AD, after which many of them seem to have been abandoned. Ringforts were defended homesteads where cattle and other livestock were brought in at night for safekeeping against natural predators and cattle rustlers.
The abandonment of ringforts around the 10th century, combined with widespread folk superstitions associating them with the malevolent power of the fairies or "good folk" has long puzzled archaeologists and historians.
In the latest episode of the Mythical Ireland Podcast (#27), I was joined by Donegal-born archaeologist and author Dr. Patrick McCafferty to discuss his fascinating theory about why ringforts might have been abandoned, and why folk superstition warns people to "stay away" from them.
The Problem: Ireland's ~45,000 ring forts (built 6th–9th c. AD) were abandoned en masse by the 12th century, yet they survived remarkably intact.
The Superstition: This preservation is attributed to folklore: ring forts became "fairy forts", with stories warning that disturbing them caused illness or death.
Example from W.B. Yeats (1888): "Whoever roots them up soon finds his cattle falling sick or his family or himself."
The Mystery: Why did these Christian-era farmsteads become associated with pagan-rooted fairies? The association of older, pre-Christian monuments with the sídhe folk and Tuatha Dé Danann is entirely understandable, but ringforts were built centuries after the introduction of Christianity.
Dr. McCafferty has a plausible explanation – Anthrax. It is a potentially deadly bacterium, to both humans and livestock, and can survive in the soil for centuries. It may explain significant plagues and disasters mentioned in the Irish annals, especially those where both humans and livestock died in large numbers.
Watch and listen to this special video podcast, which runs for 1hr 13mins. I think you'll agree the subject is fascinating, and Dr. McCafferty offers lots of interesting information and evidence to support his theory.
