Summer 2020

Editor: Duncan Berryman

School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN

[email protected] SUMMER 2020 | 1 From the Editor monthly eNewsletters to the UAS website. This print edition brings This year has been extraordinary together some of the highlights and disrupting. When I last put from the first four editions of the together a print Newsletter, I never digital newsletter. We have also set would have thought that the world up a YouTube channel (accessible would be locked down for months, from our website). Here there are and all our UAS activities cancelled several lectures, including the for the year. The health and safety lecture that Dr David Bell would of our members is of utmost have given to the Society this year. importance to the UAS. The We also did not want to cancel our committee is continually reviewing annual conference, so plans are current advice and guidance to underway to move this online. assess when we might be able to resume face-to-face meetings and We all hope that soon we will be events. We are also bound by the able to resume face-to-face guidance from Queen’s University activities. Until then, please stay since we use their facilities for safe and enjoy reading the articles lectures. in this Newsletter.

While it hasn’t been possible to Duncan Berryman produce a print Newsletter until Editor now, we have been uploading

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2 | SUMMER 2019 Discovery! 2020

This year we are unlikely to be able to hold our Discovery! conference in the normal format. Therefore, the committee has taken the decision to organise the conference online. Details of how to register will be made available nearer the time, but registration will be essential as we are using a secure system to host the conference. Registration will also be free, so anyone can attend.

We are trying to keep as close as possible to our normal conference, so the event will still take place on Saturday 7th November. The conference will take a similar form to our usual, physical conference, with a number of sessions being made available during the day. We hope to be able to provide a live discussion forum throughout the day. We don’t know what lockdown restrictions will be in place by then, but maybe members could meet in small groups to watch the lectures together and have some discussion amongst themselves.

We are still to decide on speakers for the conference, a line-up will be published on our website and social media as soon as we have it ready. However, the committee just wanted to take this opportunity to assure you that plans are in place for this year’s conference and to make sure you have the date in your diaries.

SUMMER 2020 | 3 Survey Group News floors, approximate

dimensions etc.)

As we are unable to get out and • When was it built?

survey sites at the moment, it • What is the address? Include might be a good idea to challenge townland and county, Irish ourselves by doing a short Grid reference.

personal project. This has been • Try to make a plan (even a designed to make us think about sketch) surveying and researching, just as What was there before your we normally do, so there should property was built? (consult the not be anything here that we are ordnance survey maps for this and not familiar with. It is hoped that go back to the First Edition (c. you will give it a go and have some 1834). fun in doing so. If you need any Who lived there (if anyone) before advice or help, just let me know. you? (for older properties, consult Who knows what you might find? the census returns or Griffith Valuation). What did they do for a Brief: living? Carry out some research into the What was the land used for in the area in which you live, in particular area over time? (farmland/ the house that you live in, and put industrial/ housing etc). together a short report or Try to get old photographs of the presentation that you can either area (local history books are good keep for yourself, or share your if you have any) findings with the rest of the group Are there any archaeological at some point. sites/historic buildings in the area (look in the sites and monuments Method: record/map viewer for this) Research Have a look around your flower Describe the property in which you beds etc for artefacts (remember live: you are just gardening). You might • What are the materials of find pottery, flints, metal items. construction? (brick walls, Clean and record these, timber and slate roof, two photograph them if possible.

4 | SUMMER 2019 Websites Report www.placenamesni.org Put together your report or Northern Sites and presentation (perhaps in the survey Monuments Record group report format). You should Historic environment map viewer include: Jstor (you can access some articles • Introduction for free, members can get access • All the information/data you to a limited collection of journals, have been able to find contact us for details) • Include any plans, sketches and photographs Health and Safety • Discussion • How important is the site and how Don’t forget your health and safety has this changed over time? • What is the bigger picture? • Do not spend too long at (development of the area/county) your computer screen • Add your references without a break. (books/websites you have used) • Make sure your workstation is positioned correctly. Notes • If you are working around • You should be able to the house and garden (and source the information you distracted), watch out for need online, including the trips and falls. Ordnance Survey maps. • Why don’t you try a risk • If you need specific parts of assessment? these maps, let me know, as I have most of these on Harry Welsh the hard drive and I can Fieldwork Co-ordinator send you a digital copy.

• Have a look at some of our online survey reports for ideas on layout

SUMMER 2020 | 5 Metal detecting and device from a protected place Archaeology in Northern without the written consent of the Department. A protected place is Ireland defined as any monument which has been scheduled by or is in the Following some recent reports of care of the Department. As a members reporting metal detecting device is defined as any detecting activity, we thought it device designed or adapted for might be useful to summarise what detecting or locating any metal or the law says and does not say mineral, the consent applies to about metal detecting in Northern both metal detecting and some Ireland. types of geophysical survey. It is worth noting that the simple The most universal legal restriction possession of a detecting device in on metal detecting is Common such protected places is an Law, in so far as no one has the offence, with the removal of an right to detect on any land unless object which it detected a further they have the permission of the offence (as is anyone acting with landowner. This applies to all land - written consent who fails to comply it does not have to have any with any conditions of that statutory protection, be a known or consent). suspected archaeological site or have any other special status. The HMAO says nothing further on When it comes to more specific detecting devices. It is therefore legal restrictions, such as the perfectly lawful to have and use a Historic Monuments and detecting device anywhere other Archaeological Objects (Northern than a protected place if any other Ireland) Order 1995 (HMAO), only regulations, such as prior consent one of the 45 Articles makes any from the landowner, have been reference to ‘detecting devices’. complied with. This is Article 29, which makes it an The HMAO does, however, contain offence to have possession of a a second Article which potentially detecting device and to remove restricts ‘typical’ metal detecting any archaeological object activity anywhere in Northern discovered by the use of that

6 | SUMMER 2019 Ireland. This is Article 41, exactly what he was doing, it is contained within Part III of the extremely difficult to prove this. Order under the heading After all, they can argue that they Archaeological Objects. The Article have no idea what is buried in the basically makes it an offence to ground, will only know that when it search for archaeological objects, has been retrieved and anyway, structures or ‘thing of how are they to know what exactly archaeological interest’, if that is an archaeological object, search involves ground structure or thing of archaeological disturbance, without a licence from interest? If you have a spare the Department and in compliance moment, take a look at p4 of the with any conditions it contains. This HMAO and the definition of an Article repeats a licensing archaeological object and decide if requirement dating back to 1937 the average person could easily and hence long-predating the use judge. of metal detectors to search for archaeological material. In effect, Article 41 is the basis for the however, it means that while it may excavation licensing procedures be legal to have and to use a metal managed by Historic Environment detector in an unprotected place, Division (HED). These require it may not be legal to investigate a potential licence holders to satisfy signal if that involves disturbing the certain criteria to be eligible for a ground surface in search of licence. No detectorists have archaeological material. applied for an excavation licence On the face of it, given that almost and in any case the same criteria all metal detecting activity involves could not be applied to metal ground disturbance to investigate detecting permissions as few, if any a signal, this looks like a blanket detectorists would satisfy them. If legal control. Any successful HED were ever to issue permits or prosecution, however, rests on the licenses for metal detecting, they ability to prove that the detectorist would have to use different criteria was searching for archaeological and standards. Some excavation material. But short of the licenses do, however, include an detectorist admitting that this was element of metal detecting within

SUMMER 2020 | 7 the overall excavation programme, of an offence. They may even with the licence holder managing provide supporting evidence by the detecting activity. The most advertising what the object is or notable example of a project even where they found it. The involving metal detecting was the central issue here is whether the work on the Blackwater dredgings objects have been reported, which in the 1990s. With detectorists is almost always to a Museum. The managed by licence holders from object should also be theirs to the Ulster Museum, this produced keep or sell, which means this a wealth of artefacts including the should have been agreed with the Clonmore Shrine and the landowner. Shanmullagh Hoard. Metal detecting and associated In conversation with current legislation and regulations is quite detectorists, they may say that they topical. There has recently been a search for military memorabilia, consultation on proposed lost rings, coins or bits of amendments to the Treasure Act, agricultural machinery. In the only which applies to England, Wales case where a detectorist was and and the convicted of illegally searching for associated Codes of Practice. This archaeological material, this was has major implications for metal overturned on appeal based on his detecting as the vast majority of statement that he had been items deemed to be Treasure are searching for fishing weights. found by detectorists. There is a third Article of the There is also an Historic England HMAO which can come into play in funded feasibility exercise relation to the objects – Article 42, underway on the proposal to which requires any person finding establish an Institute of an archaeological object to report Detectorists which would aim to it to a relevant authority within 14 provide training, disseminate days. So anyone holding onto or information and a clearly defined trying to sell an object, including best practice methodology for objects found by detecting, detectorists. Staff from both HED without reporting it, may be guilty and the National Monuments

8 | SUMMER 2019 Service, Ireland are Observers on What to do if you see a metal the Project Advisory Board. detectorist More locally, HED has been considering the relationship • The HMAO can be between archaeology and metal accessed here: detecting and would hope to http://www.legislation.gov. present a paper for wider uk/nisi/1995/1625/contents consultation in the coming months. • If a member sees detecting Preparatory work has reminded the taking place in Department of how much variation land/grounds owned by there is legally and practically in Councils, National Trust, the approaches to metal detecting, Government (including even within the UK and Ireland. State Care Monuments) It is clear that, despite any then they should report it potential legal restrictions, there is to the landowning body – more metal detecting activity in ideally if there is staff Northern Ireland than ever before available at the time and that many detectorists use directly to them, otherwise HED maps and databases when by email or phone. Also by researching potential locations. It is all means forward the also worth noting, however, that information to: almost all of the major metal Historicenvironmentenquiri artefacts, both Treasure and non- [email protected] Treasure, acquired by National • It is not recommended to Museums Northern Ireland in approach or challenge the recent years were found by detectorist in case this detectorists and reported by them leads to confrontation. as required by both the HMAO • If they observe it on private and the Treasure Act. land again do not approach Ken Neill the detectorist – as Heritage Advice and Regulation explained above, it will be Branch, hard to prove they are Historic Environment Division, breaking the law in any Department for Communities case. If they know the

SUMMER 2020 | 9 landowner, perhaps speak January Lecture to them at some point. Again forward any The January lecture, ‘Who was information to the enquiries buried there? Funerary practices inbox above. and selection in late Neolithic

• Photographic evidence of burial sites in Southern France’ was the activity or even the given by Dr Mélie Le Roy, aftermath, such as the holes archaeology lecturer at Queen’s left behind, may be useful University Belfast. but only take photographs if this is safe to do so and is The South of France has a rich not likely to lead to a archaeological landscape with confrontation. many collective burial sites. There are three types of collective burial A future for metal detecting in sites in the region – caves, Northern Ireland? dolmens and hypogeum and dating evidence shows that caves Ken Neill and HED have indicated and dolmens in the same that there are discussions taking geographic area were being used place about the possible future of for burial simultaneously. Many of metal detecting in Northern the dolmens were emptied in the Ireland. This is happening 19th century and reused as alongside a UK wide consultation shepherd shelters, while remains in on the possibility of better caves were often found engagement with detectorists and accidentally. Additionally, many improved training for them. The have been excavated by UAS will be following these professional archaeologists and developments with interest and will regional museums. The provide members with updates construction of these monuments whenever there is news and when obviously required much the HED produces their public investment in time and resources consultation. These will be and there has been lots of communicated in the Newsletter experimental archaeology and by email. conducted in France researching

10 | SUMMER 2019 how these structures were built. Regarding age of death, the cave However, there has been burial sites had an over- comparatively little research representation of individuals older carried out on the osteological than 5 years old, while within the remains which could reveal rich dolmens there was an under- information on who was buried at representation of individuals less these sites. Modern than 5 years old. There was also anthropological studies in areas unequal health status between where collective burial is still those individuals within caves and practised, such as Indonesia, and those within dolmens. Those Madagascar, indicates that the individuals within the caves were in relationship between individuals good health generally prior to buried within these burials is death, although there were some complex and not confined to individuals with disabling immediate family groups. Dr Le pathologies. Those individuals Roy’s research focuses on buried in dolmens had poor understanding how these burial general health but disabling monuments were used and pathologies were rare. Further learning about the individuals study of other sites within the buried within. region is required to confirm these initial results. Dr Le Roy selected 22 previously excavated Late Neolithic – Early In 2017 and 2018, fieldwork was Bronze Age collective burial sites carried out at Les Abrits 2, a (11 dolmens and 11 caves) and re- dolmen in Beaulieu in the Ardèche analysed the excavated remains region of Southern France. The site and site archives. The osteological had been previously investigated remains were studied to determine and remains of 57 adults and 29 the estimated age of the immature individuals were individuals and their general excavated, these remains were co- health. This analysis showed some mingled and no clear distribution. differences between those The re-excavation of the chamber individuals buried in the caves and revealed a hard, compact, sterile those buried in the dolmens. deposit on the floor. This was

SUMMER 2020 | 11 initially interpreted as a modern consolidation horizon, however, it Most of the Survey Group are was actually a purposefully aware of my work in Greyabbey prepared surface laid down prior to Bay and on Chapel Island it was the construction of the chamber while I was in the early stages of and analysis of the showed my archaeological adventures (6 evidence that bodies have years ago) that I came across the decayed on site. Preparation of the story of The Black Abbey. Most floor surface was also observed people would have accepted what during excavation at the nearby the books and everyone else say, Janna Cave, a cave collective burial The Black Abbey is in Blackabbey site located close to Les Abrits 2. TD. Me, I wasn’t so sure and began This indicates the care and effort tracking down as many of the made to prepare the body sources quoted in books etc., it reception surfaces. It is hoped that was through this method that I was another season of excavation will able to track down a copy of the take place at Les Abrits later in founding charter in the 2020. Monasticum Hibernia.

Grace McAllister In the meantime, I had been

walking around Blackabbey TD, The Location Of The Black looking at maps trying to figure out

Abbey In The Ards where lakes and bogs once lay, reading about Innishargy on its I had promised Duncan a small hilltop surrounded by a lake and article on Black Abbey and the lost generally trying to figure where Parish of St. John in the Ards, there was a suitable site for an typically the laptop with 99% of my abbey. The more I looked, the work on got fried by a power more I became convinced that I surge, so that’s now out the was looking in the wrong place. window. I thought what I’d do Some of the more unusual factors instead is give you a peek inside taken into consideration include the chaotic/non-linear way that how far the sound of bells and discoveries sometimes happen. singing would travel, remember

12 | SUMMER 2019 that the monks’ activities were why the site was called Roddens controlled by bells, sites which Port. It didn’t take long to find out offered a visual dominance (you that the TD had been sold to want people to see what you paid Charles Rodden by the for) and most importantly Montgomerys in 1615, Charles was freshwater. granted a license for a port around 1618 and the port was active by Having come to the conclusion 1620. The port survives as an open that The Black Abbey was box at the edge of the boulder somewhere else, I put it to the field with a raised area on its back of my mind and continued northern side, there are also the with finding new features in the remains of a wooden feature which Bay. may be another landing place of later date. Fast Forward two years...... It was during this period that I I was out with the dogs one day began to notice some oddities in when I bumped into a lady who the road and field layout at rented the field with the motte in, Roddens, some are linked to the she was tending her vegetable bunker system in Roddens Hill and beds at the time, we got chatting under the fields between Roddens and it turned out she had an and Ballyhalbert, others are older interest in history. A month or so and suggested a settlement of later I was invited for tea, scones some type. Then the founding with homemade butter so creamy charter for Black Abbey popped it was criminal, homemade jam and into my head. an interesting discussion about the preserved land surface at Roddens. If you accept that the translation of At this point she fully introduced the charter in the Monasticon is herself as Prof. Val Hall of QUB and correct then the location of The told the story of how P. Patel and Black Abbey is fairly clear, the team excavated the site in the mid- charter lists the townlands that the sixties. There was however a minor abbey is surrounded by, it does niggle, she couldn’t understand not say anything about it being in a

SUMMER 2020 | 13 townland. Conversely, the charter eastern shore and spot a piece of for The Grey Abbey states that it is sulphur yellow sandstone which in Greyabbey TD then lists the looks worked, then another and additional townlands. then a door jamb. Now I must admit to being excited, I have long If you look at the townlands listed had doubts about the building on as surrounding The Black Abbey the ridge being the chapel, so there is a curious hole, at without thinking I broke one of the Roddens. To me, it looks like this protections by lifting the mullion to was the location of The Black photograph it, the only time I have Abbey. deliberately boo-booed. In the end I found twenty or so pieces of the A few months later I summoned up yellow sandstone and several other the courage to visit Roddens pieces which looked out of place, House, I got to have a good look including a square-ish lump of around the outside and noticed a marble which could have been a few pieces of re-worked stone but saddle quern, part of a WW1 didn’t see anything that screamed bomb and some hard-white coral. monastic. Unfortunately, I was There are some obvious built refused permission to explore the features in the area, some of which surrounding fields limiting me to date from WW1&2, a couple what could be seen from the road, appear to me to be standing which to be honest was stones, and a line of large stones inconclusive. The only thing that which continues onto the island stood out was the yellow linking up with the revetment that sandstone Roddens House is built runs around much of the island. from, odd pieces of it can be seen in several field walls but there does That evening I sent off a mea culpa not appear to be a local source worried about picking up the other than glacial randoms. mullion, as I sat mulling it over I wondered if the yellow part was Meanwhile over on Chapel Island significant, Roddens House is I’m still finding new features. On yellow sandstone, the remains on this particular day I’m walking the the shore are yellow sandstone,

14 | SUMMER 2019 Grey Abbey House is yellow west. The preservation of the sandstone, the remains of The camp is much better towards its Grey Abbey are well weathered so western end where structures and all I can say is that it is pale walls survive to chest height (1.3m) sandstone. the structures vary in size considerably the largest being There is still a lot of work required 5x8m with internal divisions. One before I could say with 100% of the more interesting features is confidence that I have found The the loading ramp/dock which is a Black Abbey. The fact that I cannot modified natural feature, as is the read Latin, Irish or French means small stump just next to it. there are some big gaps in the timeline and my anxiety problems On the return swim I spent time limit me to online material which looking at the cliff faces leading to denies me PRONI and the like. If the stack that the castle sits on and somebody with the linguistic skills the outer faces of the stack itself, I and patience wants to continue then swam out, around, then onto with this feel free, if the laptop is the stumps just off the downwards fixable I’ll share everything I’ve for a 100m or so and lying against found out so far. the sides there are massive fingers David Irving of stone that must have been overburden.

Floating there looking down I was Coastal Quarrying At reminded of a blade core and how Castle each blade flaked left a distinct concavity, rather like those on the

cliffs. The Survey Group were invited to

Dunseverick Castle by The By this time the tide was starting to National Trust in order to record run so I made one last stop on the some of the features in the ‘ports’, NW corner of the stack where the day prior to the survey I took a there is a small post quarrying swim out from Portnahooagh to platform, this was fortunate as the quarry camp in the next bay

SUMMER 2020 | 15 there is a thin layer and seam of have a view from above the mining the red stone which had been the camp with identifiable features. target of the quarries. Although it Much of what we see in this image doesn’t show well in the pictures has been changed by quarrying, the material is red with multiple the path or more probably road inclusions of what I believe are halfway up the cliff is gone, the sponges and shells, to my eye it is large sea stack with its cave either the same material or very likewise. There are more subtle similar to that used in the red differences which may be down to pillars in Mount Stewart House. artistic interpretation, the jagged outcrops of rocks which rise toward The question about how much a sudden drop and the ‘port’ at material was removed needs more bottom left match up fairly well investigation, that it was with the western side of the quarry considerable can been seen in camp if seen from the NW (roughly early images of the site, some of under the waterfall created by the which suggest that a similar drainage ditch). The ‘port’ and amount of material has been part of the western slope above is removed from the castle stack as now largely filled with tailings from the sea stack shown in an old the quarrying. image (see back cover). An image from Google Earth There is something wrong with this showing the areas with evidence of image and it took me ages to work quarrying (see back cover), the line out what it was, if you look at the and areas enclosed in red have tower and building on the stack surviving quarry marks, remnant they are the wrong way around, red stone or finger type the image has been flipped. If it concavities, those in yellow are had been of higher resolution I’d areas I am less certain about. I have spotted the reversed suspect that an examination of the signature a lot quicker. seabed would reveal further With the image flipped the view evidence of quarrying between the makes a lot more sense, now rather castle stack and the eastern than showing the western port we cliff/quarried area.

16 | SUMMER 2019 The location of the small stack at Watermill site, probable the mouth of the eastern port wrack road and ford at raises the possibility of a land bridge or sea arch linking the Ballyruther Farm, near castle stack to what is now the Ballygally, Co. Antrim headland to the east, the same may apply to the NW corner and The hitherto unrecorded sites of a the stack just off from it. watermill, a cutting associated with a probable wrack road and a ford, The valley beneath the castle has have been discovered during not escaped the quarries either, as fieldwork by one of the authors a print (see back cover) shows an (SC) on Ballyruther Farm, near outcrop of ‘causeway’ stone has Ballygally, Co. Antrim. This report been removed from the bottom of briefly describes the sites and is the access path. based upon a visit to the site undertaken by the authors in Conclusion January 2009. All three sites are The evidence is clear that the stack located within the northern half of which the castle stands on has a field used for pasture on been reduced by quarrying, the full Ballyruther Farm. The field is degree of this reduction is roughly rectangular in shape and currently unknown and may be located on a steep slope unknowable but it should not be overlooking the Coast Road. ignored. Further underwater Locally known as the ‘Cove Field’, investigation may reveal that the the field is currently used for sea bed immediately off the stack pasture. It is bisected by the has also been modified, it is eastnortheast-westsouthwest exceptionally flat and the layout aligned cutting associated with the (with the L shaped stack complete) probable wrack road. The area to would make a really good harbour. the north of the probable wrack road, which contains the watermill David Irving site, shows no evidence for cultivation. The remainder of the field (to the south of the probable

SUMMER 2020 | 17 wrack road) contains a series of field’s northern boundary. The relict spade cultivation ridges, set stream is fast-flowing being approximately 2.0 metres apart supplied by two separate streams from each other and aligned down whose confluence is located in the slope in an eastnortheast- northwestern corner of the field. westsouthwest direction. The Neither of these ‘feeder’ streams southeastern corner of the field has follows a natural course, instead been subject to several episodes of they have been diverted and slope failure which manifests itself incorporated into the defining in a series of erosional scars and ditches of the local field system. slumps. The line of a possible Presumably, this act of diversion former field boundary, which coincided with the laying out of the coincides with a crest in the slope current field system and suggests of the field, is represented by three that the watermill does not predate thorn trees and a large recumbent the field system. stone that are all aligned on the same northnorthwest- At present, the site of the watermill southsoutheast axis. This possible consists of a denuded mound, former field boundary is not located immediately adjacent to featured on either the 1857 revised the stream, and a dried-up channel edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” which diverts from the stream series (Sheet 30), or any later immediately to the west of the cartographic sources. The 1833 mound and follows a curving line Ordnance Survey 6” series for Co. around the south of the mound for Antrim did not include field a distance of about 13.0 metres. boundaries. Some evidence for a stone-built structure in the stream bed Site A: The watermill (Irish Grid immediately adjacent to the Reference D35490999) mound, and a stone-built retaining The watermill is located on the wall on the northern edge of the edge of the field, immediately mound itself are observable. Apart adjacent to a stream that flows from these, and a small cache of westsouthwest to eastnortheast broken roof slates that is visible along the ditch which defines the immediately adjacent to the

18 | SUMMER 2019 western end of the dried-up been built upon the top of the channel, no structural remains mound. survive suggesting that the watermill building was The dried-up channel is about comprehensively dismantled rather 0.5metres wide with steep sides than allowed to fall into ruin. The and a relatively flat base (maximum absence of any watermill building depth approximately 0.3 metres). on the first edition of the Ordnance It is visible for a distance of about Survey 6” map indicates that this 15 metres, but appears to run out probable act of demolition had to the east of the mound - in an occurred by 1833. area where the poaching by The mound is made up of animals has been particularly redeposited clay. It is damaging. It is probable that the approximately 10.0 metres long, dried-up channel would have and has a level summit which is formed the leat and tail race of the approximately 2.0 to 3.0 metres watermill located upon the top of wide. The mound’s western end is the mound. level with the ground surface of the field, but the steepness of the It is difficult to reconstruct the form field’s slope makes its eastern end of the mill from the surviving approximately 1.5 metres higher remains. It is reasonable to than the adjacent part of the field. suggest that the mill’s wheel was The mound is overgrown with small located adjacent to the mound in trees and bushes and the area the dried-up channel, which would around it has been poached by have formed the mill’s leat and tail stock gaining access to the stream. race. Given the longitudinal No grass grows over the mound alignment of the mound, the wheel and it is susceptible to erosion. was presumably mounted onto the Much of the mound’s northern side side of the building, rather than a appears to have been eroded by gable end. The apparent remains the stream when it has been in of a denuded stone structure flood. It is suggested that the within the stream at a point watermill building would have opposite the mound poses a problem of interpretation. If this

SUMMER 2020 | 19 was the remains of a wheel pit then the current field system, then the either the mill had two wheels, or construction of the mill cannot pre- the stream and leat have been date the laying out of the current misidentified. Alternatively, it is field system. The date of the field possible that the apparent stone system itself is unknown, although structure represents elements of it is reasonable to assume that it the mill building that have does not pre-date the late collapsed into the stream. sixteenth century. As the cartographic evidence indicates A further problem of interpretation that the mill had been demolished is posed by the absence of by 1833 (see above), then the mill evidence for a mill pond in the probably dates to some point immediate vicinity of the watermill. between the late sixteenth and Although one of the ‘feeder’ early nineteenth century. It is streams flows through a small pond tempting to suggest that the (not visited) at Laidside Farm watermill is one of those recorded approximately 190 metres to the as being in ‘Ballyrather’ in a 1635 northwest of the mill site, as Inquisition Post-Mortem as being Laidside Farm is not represented formerly owned by a David Buthill on the first edition Ordnance de Glandrine and who had been Survey 6” map, it is unlikely that its succeeded by a Randulph Buthill pond was associated with the (Inq. Ulst. Antrim Car.I (40)). watermill. Given the amount of Randulph Buthill is presumably the water draining through the stream Randle Brittle whose house and it would probably not have been parcel of ‘Ballruder’ / ‘Ballrudery’ necessary to construct a mill pond are respectively depicted on the in order to guarantee a constant extant copies of the maps of the flow of water. Parish of Cairncastle and Barony of Glenarne that were prepared as On archaeological and part of the Down Survey c.1656-68 cartographic evidence alone, the (NISMR No. ANT 035:087). precise date of the watermill is uncertain. Given that the stream Site B: Cutting associated with the which supplies it is integrated into probable wrack road (between Irish

20 | SUMMER 2019 Grid Reference D35510997 and this feature, would be necessary if D35460995) the cutting was a gradually-formed Part of a probable wrack road hollow way. passes through the field. Today, the line of this road can be traced Site C: The ford (Irish Grid from a point on the Coast Road Reference D35520999) (Irish Grid Reference D35541003), Where the probable wrack road across the ford noted below (Irish crosses the stream that defines the Grid Reference D35520999), to a field’s northern boundary, a ford of gate through the western field wall large stone slabs had been built. of the field containing the Although the area around the ford watermill site (Irish Grid Reference is now overgrown it was possible D35420994). The path of the road to take some photographs of the is clearly demarcated in the field feature. The ford consisted of at by an approximately 3.0 metre least six or seven large flat slabs wide cutting which is visible for a neatly laid as lintels over a channel distance of about 60.0 metres. with an estimated depth of at least That the cutting is deepest where it 0.15 metres. During the course of passes through the crest of the the site visit it was not possible to slope suggests that it was ascertain how the lintel slabs were deliberately cut in order to reduce supported, or whether the base of the maximum gradient of the the channel also consisted of laid wrack road. Such an arrangement slabs. would ease the work of traction animals bringing loads up from the Dating the ford is difficult. It is first coast. The presence of a slight up- marked on the 1906 edition of the cast bank on the southern side of Ordnance Survey’s 6” map, but the deepest section of the cutting undoubtedly, significantly pre- is consistent with this dates the early twentieth century. interpretation. Given the Discussions of the ford’s date are steepness of the route, it is inextricably linked to considered unlikely that periodic considerations of how and when episodes of maintenance, which the current field system was laid might alternatively have formed out. The path of the stream, and

SUMMER 2020 | 21 by extension the line of the field Conclusions boundary, becomes irregular The three sites described above towards the lower, eastern end of form an important element of the the field where the ford is located. post-medieval landscape of Antrim As the stream’s natural course has and are deserving of a more been diverted elsewhere to, in accurate survey than that part, define the field boundary, it performed by the authors in 2009 – could be argued that it is unlikely perhaps, in due course, they could that the ford predates the laying be tackled by the Ulster out of the current field system. Archaeological Society’s Survey However, the irregularity of the Group. With or without further stream’s course at this point raises survey, it is desirable that the sites the possibility that, if only in this are incorporated into the Sites and part of the field, the line of the Monuments Record and a copy of boundary deviated from its straight this report has been submitted to alignment to incorporate a pre- the Historic Environment Division existing natural stream. If the ford of the Department of the pre-dated the laying out of the Communities to facilitate this. The current field system then it may discoveries themselves represent have been perceived as a feature an excellent example of the worth incorporating into the field potential for discovering hitherto system when it was laid out. unrecorded archaeological sites Consequently, no great confidence within the Ulster landscape. It is can be placed upon the date of the authors’ hope that the account laying out the field system as a of the watermill, probable wrack terminus post quem for the road and ford at Ballyruther, as construction of the ford. As well as being of intrinsic interest to previously noted, the date of the the wider archaeological field system itself is unknown, community, will inspire members of although it is reasonable to assume the Society, once the current that it does not pre-date the late restrictions are lifted, to put on sixteenth century. their boots and explore the countryside with a view to discovering sites themselves.

22 | SUMMER 2019 Rathcroghan Visitor Centre – Acknowledgements Presenting the Iron Age royal The authors are grateful to Miss landscape of Cruachan Aí Jenny Crawford (Ballyruther Farm) for kindly providing access to the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Co. site. The assistance of Maura Roscommon was established in Pringle (formerly Queen’s 1999 as a community-run social University Belfast) and Colm enterprise, to act as the Donnelly (Queen’s University interpretive facility and resource Belfast) in the preparation of this hub for the UNESCO World account is also gratefully Heritage Site-nominated acknowledged. Rathcroghan Archaeological Landscape. The idea of a heritage centre devoted to the Rathcroghan Stephen Cameron ( Landscape arose from a series of Archaeological Society) and Philip successful remote sensing Macdonald (Macdonald investigations which were Archaeological Consultancy). conducted over the principal monuments of the landscape between 1994 and 1998 by the National University of Ireland, Galway, with funding from the Heritage Council. The Rathcroghan Landscape comprises a collection of at least two hundred and forty archaeological sites, sixty of which are designated as National Monuments, located on the limestone-rich fertile plains of mid- Roscommon. The majority of the core of this landscape is contained in an area above the 120m OD contour line, providing extensive

SUMMER 2020 | 23 views over much of the province of its environs, which showed close Connacht. This landscape retains parallels with the excavated and evidence of human settlement upstanding remains found at other from at least as early as the early of the Irish Iron Age royal sites, Neolithic Period (c.3,500BC), such as at the Hill of Tara, Co. through to the later medieval Meath, Dún Ailinne, Co. Kildare, period, with a period of particularly and particularly, (Emain pronounced activity dateable to Macha), Co. Armagh. This was a the late Iron Age. multi-period ritual monument, and The archaeological character of the it has been theorised that this landscape is multifaceted, with a served as the location for substantial collection of Bronze ceremonies and events linked with and Iron Age funerary monuments, prehistoric sacral kingship. numerous ringfort settlement sites Oweynagat, for its part, is deemed of early medieval or medieval date, to be a portal or door into the Irish standing stones, a cashel (stone Otherworld, a place deliberately fort), large-scale linear earthworks, linked with the seasonal gathering and a matrix of later medieval field of Samhain, modern Halloween, boundaries. and a place of initiation or warrior The focal points of this landscape testing. It survives today as a are the large earthen mound of manmade souterrain-like Rathcroghan Mound, and a natural passageway which then attaches limestone cavern known as onto a sinuous limestone cavern. Oweynagat, which possesses very Its modern humble appearance strong associations with the belies its place in Irish mythology, mythological and folkloric narrative and both it, and the Rathcroghan that also grips this landscape. landscape as a whole, are very well Rathcroghan Mound was the most represented as a central place in extensively investigated of the the Ulster Cycle of Tales. These monuments as part of the tales relate to the epic clashes aforementioned NUI, Galway between, particularly, the Ulaid ArchaeoGeophysical Imaging and Connachta, and a cast of Project. These surveys uncovered a characters which included Queen deep complexity to the mound and Medb (Maeve), Ailill, Cú Chulainn,

24 | SUMMER 2019 Conchobar Mac Nessa, Fráoch and through our online shop at so on. The many tána (‘cattle’ raids) www.rathcroghan.ie] of the Ulster Cycle all begin at - Acquisition of funding and Cruachan Aí (Rathcroghan), and successful installation of a bespoke the central tale of the cycle, the artefactual display connected to Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of the material culture of mid- Cooley), which surrounds Queen Roscommon, in association with Medb’s quest to take a monstrous the National Museum of Ireland bull, the famed Donn Cuailnge, for (2018) herself, begins and ends at the - New tour bus acquisition (2019) royal site for Connacht. - Children’s museum workbook It is from this extensive source (2019) material of archaeology, history On top of this, all of our tour and mythology that the guides are academic researchers in interpretive centre has drawn on in their own right, with numerous order to share the story of peer-reviewed publications on Rathcroghan. The centre operates areas which interest them under on a year-round basis, providing a their belts. The centre also offers museum and interpretive an annual forum through which exhibition, specialist bookshop and community groups, societies, gift shop, mythologically-themed individual researchers and Táin Café, and our guided tour academics can present and debate offering of the Rathcroghan on aspects of research in their own landscape. The centre currently locales. Known as the Rathcroghan employs 11 staff members, who on Conference – Archaeology Above top of the day-to-day running of all & Below, it is Ireland’s only annual things to do with the centre, are community archaeology actively engaged in a wide range conference, and has been of projects relating to Rathcroghan. operating under this theme since These include some of the 2014. The conference schedule for following: the upcoming, hopefully - The writing of Rathcroghan: The rescheduled, 2020 conference is Guidebook (2018) [available available at www.rathcroghanconference.com.

SUMMER 2020 | 25 The most recent positive Rathcroghan Visitor Centre is open development at Rathcroghan has six days a week (Monday to been the development of a five- Saturday), 9am to 4.30pm year Department of Agriculture, throughout the year. Sunday Food & the Marine (DAFM) funded opening (12pm to 4pm) occurs agri-environmental project for from May to the end of August. Rathcroghan, entitled ‘Sustainable Tour times are available through Farming in the Rathcroghan our website. Archaeological Landscape’. Known as ‘Farming Rathcroghan’ for short, this is a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project designed to trial measures that would lead to more sustainable livelihoods for the farming community of Rathcroghan, while focussing on the maintenance, preservation, and enhancement of this archaeological and cultural landscape. At time of writing, the project has recruited thirty project farmers, and 2020 will see the trialling of the first set of measures. It is hoped that the successful delivery of this project will have positive implications for future agricultural schemes, both in Ireland, and throughout Europe, linked to preservation of our archaeological heritage. More information on the Farming Rathcroghan project is available at https://www.rathcroghan.ie/history /farming-at-rathcroghan/

26 | SUMMER 2019 New Books Partnership & Participation - The following are a selection of Community Archaeology in Ireland recently published books that are - Edited by Christine Baker likely to be of interest to members Wordwell Books, €35 of the UAS. The first five are directly relevant to Ulster, with two The Alliance of Pirates: Ireland and focusing directly on Ulster and the Atlantic piracy in the early others containing significant seventeenth century - Connie discussions of the region. The final Kelleher three are of a more general Cork University Press, £27 interest, but two of them have an

Irish focus. Early Irish Sculpture and the Art of the High Crosses - Roger Stalley The Kings of Aileach and the Yale University Press, £40 Vikings, AD 800–1060 - Darren McGettigan Communities and knowledge Four Courts Press, €24.95 production in archaeology - Edited by Julia Roberts, Kathleen

Sheppard, Ulf R. Hansson and Irish Houses and Castles, 1400– Jonathan R. Trigg 1740 - Rolf Loeber Manchester University Press, £80 Four Courts Press, €24.95

Con O’Neill, Last Gaelic Lord of Upper Clannaboy - Roy Greer White Row Press, £14.95

Journeys of Faith: Stories of pilgrimage from Medieval Ireland - Louise Nugent Columba Books, €26.99

SUMMER 2020 | 27 Coastal Quarrying at Dunseverick

28 | SUMMER 2019