EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Antrim
Ballyaghagan, Co. Antrim
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: J32337844 (33233/37844)
SMR No. ANT 056:054
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: May 1948; June 1950.
Site Director: E. E. Evans (Queen's University Belfast); V. B. Proudfoot (Queen's
University Belfast).
A souterrain was uncovered during construction of a housing estate. The souterrain was
located within the much truncated vestiges of an enclosure, the surviving ditch portion of
which had been re-cut as a retting pond for flax (Fig. 4). The souterrain consisted of three
chambers linked by short passages. There was little cultural material recovered from this
excavation. Sherds of souterrain ware were discovered in the souterrain and the lowest
occupation layer on the enclosure; and two pieces of worked bones (possibly spearheads?)
were discovered in the souterrain.
A supplemental excavation was undertaken two years after Evan’s earlier investigation.
Thousands of sherds of souterrain ware were recovered from the primary occupation layer,
as well as a bronze ring-pin, two iron knives, and a fragment of a jet/lignite bracelet. A
bronze buckle was found in the interface between this occupation layer and an upper clay
deposit. Bones from domestic animals were also recovered: 85% cattle; 14% pig; 1%
sheep/goats. The skeleton of an adult human male was also discovered in the course of this
excavation. It was found in association with souterrain ware, but was not necessarily
synchronous with the pottery.
Fig. 5: Plan of enclosure at Ballyaghagan, Co. Antrim (after Proudfoot 1958, 19).
References:
Evans, E.E. 1950. A enclosure and souterrain at Shaneen Park, Belfast, townland of
Ballyaghagan, Co. Antrim, Ulster Journal of Archaeology (Third Series) (13), 6–27.
Proudfoot, V.B. 1958. Further excavations at Shaneen Park, Belfast, Ballyaghagan townland,
Co. Antrim, Ulster Journal of Archaeology (Third Series) (21), 18–38.
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