Dunbea

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Dùn Beag Promontory Fort, ( little fort ) is Situated on the edge of a cliff over looking Dingle Bay, and the SKELLIG islands. It was built of DRY STONE WALLING, i.e. Stone on stone without the use of MORTAR. This means that these walls would have been constructed in a similar way to the BROCKS of SCOTLAND, ( circular stone forts with stone stairs built within their walls)., (2001 series). This method of construction was used through out EUROPE, SCANDINAVIA, MALTA, and into AFRICA. ( or should that be OUT of Africa ? ) at this time, and so, would have been brought here by seafarers, and travellers. As in DÚN an ÓIR, it was surrounded by a series of LARGE DRY STONE WALL defences, ( 5 or 6 ), and performed the same FUNCTION as the FOSSE and DITCH, i.e. DEFENSIVE. These WALLS had RAMPARTS /STEPPED walk ways, which means that they were extremely sturdy, and could be DEFENDED with ease. They were built in a semi-circular fashion, and ENCIRCLED / reached the edge of the cliff, at either side. Being built of stone also helped to discourage any one from attacking. The FORT itself is WEDGED shaped i.e. Wider at its front / Land ward side, and Narrow at its Back / Seaward side. Its main ENTRANCE / DOORWAY has a SLOPING JAMB construction, i.e. wider at its base than at the LINTEL / top, and this method of doorway / entrance, construction was used into EARLY CHRISTIAN times. The FORT was also built of DRY STONE WALLING, and was obviously used as a PROTECTED home / farmstead ,not alone from being attacked, but also from the WEATHER i.e. the rain and wind which comes directly in from America, ( and that's no JOKE ).

This style of DOOR WAY / ENTRANCE was used for a number of reasons. It is constructed so that it narrows towards the LINTEL / TOP, dictated by the construction of the wall itself. These walls narrow / taper as they rise from ground level. The weight of the upper courses of stone, bearing down on a vertical wall would make them BOW OUT, and eventually collapse. The slight angle / LEAN given to these JAMBS / sides, would counteract this, by TRANSFERRING all of this weight directly to the foundation, and as we know from the CORBELLED roof of NEW GRANGE, this weight, and ANGLE, HOLDS each stone in position, and perfectly BALANCED. ( Lets face it, THIS is stating the obvious, as both are still standing today more than 4,000 yrs. later ). The front wall of the FORT is also sloping gently in and upward , (i.e. narrows as it rises). Each stone is placed precisely, forming a sheer wall, as smooth as a modern BLOCK wall. Each stone fits into place accurately, and required very little shaping / DRESSING, ( except to the outward face ), to fit. These walls do not contain CLINKER, ( the off cut pieces from shaping each stone which would have been used to fill the cavity ), as at CATHAIR GEAL. The BACK wall, on the CLIFF face, shows the same method of CONSTRUCTION as the FRONT . They provided protection from the WEATHER, which could be fairly poor in WINTER, with the ATLANTIC gales coming straight in from the sea. The dwellings / houses which MAY? have been built here, would also have been constructed out of STONE, due to the lack of TREES along the WEST coast of Ireland .They would have been built on the CORBELLED system.

The inner Defensive wall, has STEPPES / RAMPARTS built into it, which enabled the DEFENDERS / DWELLERS to repel any attackers before they could reach the FORT itself. The walls 10 / 12 ft.,( 3 / 4 Mets. ), in height, stretch from one cliff edge to the other in a SEMICIRCULAR shape. The remains of a further four such walls can be seen on the LAND WARD side of this one. To enter the CHAMBER, built into the inner defensive wall, you have to crawl on your hands and knees. At most, two people could fit inside it, and it is roofed in the CORBELLED system. It may have been used by the GUARD'S at the entrance, as a place of refuge, ( IF ALL ELSE FAILED ), or it may have been used for the storing of WEAPONS / FOOD, or as a HIDING place for any VALUABLES owned by the FAMILY / GROUP . It is similar therefore, to the CLOCHÁNS / BEEHIVE HUT'S which were built in the DINGLE area, during the EARLY CHRISTIAN era.