EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Antrim
Drumadoon, Co. Antrim
Early Medieval Raised Enclosure.
Grid Ref: D16744046 (31467 44046)
SMR No: ANT 009:042
Excavation Licence: AE/03/105
Excavation Duration/Year: May – August 2003.
Site Director: C. McSparron (Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, QUB) & B. B.
Williams (Northern Ireland, Environment & Heritage Service: Built Heritage).
The site consists of a mound, approximately 5m high, set at the end of a ridge. Small-scale
gravel quarrying by the landowner had exposed the side of a souterrain, and had potentially
compromised the integrity of the archaeological site.
Excavation of the site revealed that a bank had originally enclosed an area 14m by 5m on top
of a natural mound, approximately 3.5m in height. This bank had a stone-faced external
façade, and there was evidence for a cobbled entranceway and metalled interior surface. The
construction of the souterrain appears to have occurred during this phase of occupation.
Human habitation is indicated by the presence of a hearth, and a circular hut which was
associated with deposits of burnt wattle-and daub (Fig. 24). Souterrain ware (242 sherds)
were found in this occupation layer; as well as two iron nails, and iron spearhead, and a
copper alloy clasp. A large number of oat grains (10,000 +) were recovered from in and
around the hut, accounting for 74% of the total cereal grains from this occupation phase.
The bank slump was later levelled and in-filled to create an artificial platform upon which a
second hearth and paved area were constructed (Fig. 25). Souterrain ware (54 sherds) was
also found in this occupation layer.
The interior of the site was levelled again, and the external bank was strengthened by the
addition of an internal stone revetment. A sub-circular hut was identified in this occupation
phase, which appears to relate to the conversion of the early medieval site into an Anglo-
Norman motte (Fig. 26). A copper-alloy bell-shrine of possible twelfth-century date was
discovered in a void within the souterrain fill. A figure of Christ, which was manufactured at
Limoges in the thirteenth century, had been attached to the bell-shrine. A silver half-penny of
Henry III (dating to 1247-1272) was also found in this phase. Over two hundred pottery
sherds were recovered – the majority (134) were identified as souterrain ware; a large
number (85) were identified as possible souterrain ware; and fourteen were identified as
thirteenth/fourteenth-century Medieval Ulster Coarse Pottery.
Analysis of the mammalian animal bones shows that the numbers of identified specimens
(NISP) from the Early Medieval occupation phases are: Cattle (185); Sheep (160); Pig (43);
Horse (7); Dog (10); Cat (14); Fox (31); and Hare (3). A number of fish bones (67) were also
recovered, and were identified to salmon, saithe, red seabream, and cod (in the earliest
occupation layer); and cod and red seabream (in the later layer).
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