A stand of mature Beech trees at the back of the interior was left unexcavated because the roots would make an excavation non-viable. This area shows the original level of the interior before the excavation. There were up to 22 people working on the dig. Excavation is a very slow and tedious process. The area had to be divided into sections with string. Each area was concentrated on with extreme care, using small tools such as trowels, scrappers etc, to scrape away the soil carefully, layer by layer.

Record sheets were made of each layer, and scale drawings and photographs of each find and deposits. Finds were numbered and put in plastic labelled bags and taken to University College, Cork for examination.

But most importantly, the Archaeologists found remains of the post which originally supported the wall of the round hut, and animals pens. These remains were recognised by small dark circle of soil, being remains of the wooden posts. Now all buildings are reconstructed on their original site, where they would have been 1,000 years ago. Several pounds of iron-slag were recovered, but no smelting area was found.

Lios-na-gCon is the only Ringfort reconstructed on its original site in Ireland.

Lios-na-gCon Ringfort is a 10^th Century restored defended farmstead, based on the excavation results during 1987 to 1989. Lios-na-gCon would be the home of a well-to-do farmer and his family. The site would have been a strong economic unit, depending largely on cattle husbandry, dairying, cereals and other animals like pigs, sheep, and goats. Lios-na-gCon is a very unique site, as it is the only Ringfort reconstructed on its original site in Ireland.

Ringforts can be suggested in a placename, such as Lios (Lios-na-gCon - meaning the fort of the hound) Rath-dun, caiseal, cathair referring to a stone fort.

Ringforts would have been occupied in a rural and wooded landscaped, when towns were not developed yet, which were first formed by Viking Settlers. A Ringfort can be described as a space usually circular surrounded by a bank and ditch.

The reason why so many have survived is due to the superstition of farmers - they were known and still are known by some as "Fairy Forts", and if you dared knock down or trespass in the Fort you were doomed with bad luck for eternity. This superstition was a good thing in many ways, as it has preserved these valuable archaeological monuments.

The banks were built for defensive purposes, to keep out wild animals and attackers. The farm animals may have been kept in the ditch during the day, hidden from cattle raiders.

The banks have been restored to their original height. The inside bank was made stronger and higher by a wattle fence or wooden posts, as it is restored today. Some Ringforts put a band of Blackthorn twigs on top, this served the same purpose as modern day barbed wire.

In Celtic Early Christian times, Ireland was not ruled by a single government. Instead the country was divided into around 150 small independent kingdoms called Tuatha.

Lios-na-gCon, would have been part of a tuath, where everyone was connected to a extended family of the male side. Each tuath would comprise of several ringforts, governed by a Petty King. From the entrance of the site, you can see two ringforts and more on the other side of the fort. These Ringforts were probably members of the same family. The occupants could signal to their neighbour, if they were in distress, e.g. in a middle of a cattle raid and would come over and help.