Coastal Erosion and the Promontory Fort: Appearance and Use during Late Iron Age and Early Medieval County Waterford, Ireland
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors present a study of how erosion over time has slowly but persistently destroyed Iron Age to early medieval promontory forts in Co. Waterford in southern Ireland, to the point that they would probably disappear in about 350 years.
This article is an excellent example of how qualitative methods can be used to illustrate the effects of environmental degradation, whether natural or man-made, on the conservation of historical sites.
In their methodology, they make good use of oral tradition, historical records and detailed aerial photography to unravel their findings.
The literature review is exhaustive and well documented.
The discussion of their findings is clear and their elucubration is sensible and grounded on solid facts.
The use of the English language is impeccable.
The only deficiency I see in this article -and it is not minor- is its lack of a section of conclusions. The paper ends abruptly in the discussion section. The two last paragraphs include some more general comments about the findings, but not general enough to conclude a paper.
Some more elaborate narrative of what is advanced in the abstract needs to give a sense of closure to this paper. And by all means it should be a separate section of conclusions.
Author Response
A conclusion has been added to the text lines 568 to 586 summing up the methodology and findings as well as highlighting the vulnerability and urgency to study promontory forts.
Reviewer 2 Report
In general, I considerer that this work have a great historical value and analyzed a great amount of historical information. I believe that the investigation could be improve including new techniques for analyzing the coastal variations. For example, GIS techniques, as DSAS or similar, could be help to understand the more recently dynamics.
With this modern techniques could be understand the recent and future variations in this areas and this fact could be improve de management polycies.
I think that this work could be published, but I add follow a few details that can improve this research.
Concrete points:
Lines 33-34: Reference about this sentence.
Lines 40-42: This sentence is a opinion, it is necessary include other researchs in relation to the human influence in coastal erosion.
Lines 115-116: There are a lot of works in relation to climate change. Could be interesting mentioning any.
Lines 126-128: Could be interesting include more information about the erosion. With aerial images there are a lot of methods for improve these analysis, e.g. DSAS. These types of tools could be improve the quality of this investigation.
Environment section: It is necessary highlight the importance of other factors in the evolution of these sectors, as the rainfall. In relation to this sentence, could be use more detailed data (meteorological records).
Line 268: The value of 60 m, what is the source?
Table 1 (caption): GSI data? maybe is GIS data?. And the fieldwork have a concrete techniques or any relevant element?
Author Response
(33/4) a reference from studies in the Solent in southern England referring to sea level change indicators has been added.
(40-42) A reference to Hallsands in Devon has been inserted and another reference of a study looking at an Iron Age to medieval site where they have only use 20th century maps and aerial photographs to understand change.
(41-43) The reference to the chalk cliff erosion has been added (now lines 46-48).
(115/6) Another climate change reference has been added here (now line 122).
(126-128) A paragraph referring to DSAS has been inserted (now lines 149-158).
(Environment section) Further references to the climate have been added (now lines 204-206).
(269) The 60m measurement has been clarified as the authors’ measurement (now line 288-290).
(309) in Table 1 The abbreviation of GSI for Geological Survey of Ireland has been made clear earlier in the text and on the table.
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper firstly describes the importance of promontory forts existing along the south Ireland Coast. They were used in the late Iron Age and early medieval age. They have been heavily eroded due to wave action year by year. The preservation of historical forts is very important to investigate how they carried out the significant performances in fishing, trading, and farming etc. In conclusions, the monitoring of erosion process in strongly recommended.
The publication of the paper is very useful to establish a consensus for preservation of old forts and to prevent the coastal erosion due to climate change. To make the sentence more clearly, the following revision is necessary:
- Figure 8, Please clearly indicate the cave and two forts.
- Figure 11, This is the most important figure. The font is too small. Put the No on each fort.
- Figure 2, The fonts are too small.
Author Response
Thank you for your review and suggesting that we continue monitoring the erosion. We have undertaken another spell check as suggested.
1. We have improved Figure 8 indicating the cave (labeling it as Poulatunish as it is referred in the text) and marking the two forts clearly. We also labelled other features in the photograph that were referred to in the text such as Saint John's Island and Foilrigeen. Figure 8 was swapped around with Figure 9 so Figure 8 is now Figure 9 as the island of Illaunobrick was mentioned in the text first and we thought it best to make that image earlier.
2. Figure 11, The font size has been increased. 'Put the No on each fort' - I have now clearly labelled what are the known promontory forts with 'PF' on this figure. PF is explained in the key. I hope that is satisfactory.
3. Figure 2, The font sizes have been increased. We also did this with the other figures (Figure 1 and 10 for consistency).
Reviewer 4 Report
The manuscript presents an interesting review of the remains of different archaeological rests on the Copper Coast of Ireland.
It can be clearly seen that it is the result of an important investigation carried out with different techniques that allow us to achieve our objective: the reconstruction and analysis of the coastline and the past fortifications.
My sincere congratulations to the authors for the work they have done, as I consider the article to be ready for publication.
Author Response
Thank you for your very positive review. We have undertaken a spell check.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have responded adequately to my concern.
Author Response
Thank you for both of your reviews. We have undertaken another spell check of the document.
