[Mach Two]

Why do forts have different shapes?

[Aegir]

Typically, forts were built so that there were no blind spots that defending guns could not fire in to. This resulted in many having a star shape. If you look up Bastion Forts you will get more info.

[Peregrinus]

Plus, the shape of the fort will often be affected by the topography of the land - e.g. boundary walls may follow the contours of the land in order to maintain an even height, or they will be located just where a steep fall of land starts, so that anyone attacking them has to climb up to them.

[Mach Two]

My apologies I should have said "fairy fort".

[Peregrinus]

They're mostly pretty circular, aren't they? And, where they aren't, the commonest reason is that they have been partly destroyed, or partly overlaid by some other structure.

Also worth bearing in mind that they were built over a very long period of time, and in many cases for different purposes - some were livestock enclosures, some were dwellings, some were fortifications, etc. Some were repurposed from one use to another over time. All of these factors would account for some design variation.

[JJayoo]

Many forts also have graves for unbaptized babies, the one on our land has a grave.

[Mach Two]

I see a fort the shape of a boat on Google earth that has the shape of a boat. And it is pointing directly North.

[tromtipp]

Are you sure it's a ring fort? How is it described by the National Monuments service?

[tromtipp]

I think I've just lost a post. Check it out here and see whether it is described as a fort.

https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/

[danoH]

Raths are the most common fort types to be seen throughout Ireland..many raths were used as dwellings-farmhouse and outbuildings but were not meant or used for defence -the banks would keep out wild animals -foxes wolves but not attack by humans

[Mach Two]

Originally Posted by tromtipp

I think I've just lost a post. Check it out here and see whether it is described as a fort.

https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/

Not recorded on map.

[Peregrinus]

Then it may not, in fact, be a fort.

[Padre_Pio]

Originally Posted by danoH

Raths are the most common fort types to be seen throughout Ireland..many raths were used as dwellings-farmhouse and outbuildings but were not meant or used for defence -the banks would keep out wild animals -foxes wolves but not attack by humans

Depends how you define "defence".

Livestock was a big part of early Celtic society. Raths could be used as livestock pens and a safeguard against rustlers.

[magicbastarder]

Originally Posted by Mach Two

I see a fort the shape of a boat on Google earth that has the shape of a boat. And it is pointing directly North.

a link could be useful.

[Mach Two]

Shouldn't be any need. Covered in trees anyhow. Approximately 50 yds long. At its widest maybe 10yds. Built on a hill/rise with a slightly higher hill about 200yds to its east.