EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Antrim
Ballylacky, Co. Antrim
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: J16356487 (31635/36487)
SMR No: ANT 063:045
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: March – April 1962.
Site Director: L. Flanagan (Ulster Museum).
The site consisted of a bivallate enclosure (approximately 35m in diameter (Fig. 6)), set in a
low-lying and water-logged area. Excavation was required as the site was threatened with
destruction under a farm improvement scheme.
The enclosure was only partially excavated due to water-logging in the interior and in the
inner ditch. Three phases of occupation were identified, with the latter two at least belonging
to the early medieval period. The earliest phase was represented by stretches of a timberrevetted
ditch within the interior of the site (Fig. 6). It was not possible to relate this smaller
ditched enclosure with the surrounding banks-and-ditches, although the excavator suggests
that these features may not necessarily be unconnected.
The second phase was indicated by a rectangular stone-built house, with rounded corners
(Fig. 7). An extensive spread of charcoal covered the central area of the house, but no other
features survived. A layer of humus covering the phase 2 house was identified as the final
phase. No features were recorded from this phase, but a number of diagnostically early
medieval artefacts were found (a glass bead; a fragment of lignite bracelet; a stone hone;
and a number of pottery sherds).
Souterrain ware sherds were found from all three phases; and an unidentified (imported?)
sherd of ‘brick red’ ware with a ‘fine sandstone-like fabric’ was also recovered from the final
phase.
Fig. 7: Plan of Ballylacky, Co. Antrim (after Flanagan 1962).
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