EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Down
‘White Fort’ (Drumaroad td.), Co. Down
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: J36534397 (33653/34397)
SMR No: DOW 036:008
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: 1953
Site Director: D.M Waterman (for the Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland).
The site is a broadly pear-shaped cashel (50m east-west) located on top of an isolated knoll
of rock, and was excavated as part of the Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland. The
original stone wall is largely scattered, or reduced to ground-level, but appears to have been
approximately 3m to 3.75m thick.
A central raised area was identified as a house platform (Fig. 103). This was excavated and
found to be a multi-phase structure. A pit, partially paved with flat stones, which was covered
by a deposit of charcoal, represented the first phase of occupation. This pit has been
identified as a cooking-pit, and the sherds of souterrain ware from the charcoal deposit were
indistinguishable from pottery found in later house deposits, suggesting that this pit also
belongs to the early medieval period.
The Phase 1 house was probably square-shaped, although the structural evidence is rather
inconclusive. Three postholes were uncovered from this phase, as well as a considerable
deposit of charcoal. Numerous sherds of souterrain ware and an iron plough coulter were
also recovered from this phase.
The Phase 2 house was also square-shaped, and the flat stone paving associated with it
suggests that it was approximately 6 metres squared (Fig. 104). Two postholes were located
in the middle of the south wall, presumably representing door posts. The roof of the house
was supported by four free-standing internal posts. The only other feature within the Phase 2
house was a stone-lined hearth in the centre of the house. Occupation debris outside the
Phase 2 house, but associated with it, included numerous sherds of souterrain ware, an
annular glass bead (clear green with opaque yellow paste), a fragment of shale/jet/lignite
bracelet and two broken quernstones.
A souterrain was located approximately 1.75 metres north of the house platform. It was not
possible to definitively link the souterrain with any of the house phases, although the
excavator suggested that it may have been in existence during the occupancy of the Phase 1
house.
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