Ballyfounder Rath is the remains of a ringfort

Ringfort

Ringforts are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Iron Age , although some were built as late as the Early Middle Ages . They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland...

 situated on the Ards Peninsula

Ards Peninsula

The Ards Peninsula is a peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland which separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea, on Ireland's northeast coast. A number of towns and villages are located on the peninsula, such as the seaside town of Donaghadee, with the surrounding area...

, in County Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

. It consists of a circular mound about 20m in diameter, with traces of an outer bank and ditch. It is a Scheduled Historic Monument and is at grid ref: J6207 4954.

Excavations

Excavations carried out by Waterman found a Paffrath ware ladle in a layer containing decorated glazed jugs, relating to a ringfort heightened by the Anglo-Norman

Anglo-Norman

The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...

s. This suggested that the ladle was not deposited until the middle of the 13th century, which would mean that it had survived for at least a century. This secondary occupation of Ballyfounder consisted of a small rectangular timber-framed building, a few other post-holes and occupation debris dated to the 13th century by the Anglo-Norman pottery.