EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Antrim
Ballyutoag, Co. Antrim
Early Medieval Unenclosed Houses.
Grid Ref: J27387954 (32738/37954)
SMR No. ANT 056:085
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: July – August 1981; July 1982.
Site Director: B. B. Williams (Historic Monuments Branch, Department of the
Environment).
Ballyutoag is a collection of early medieval houses contained within enclosure ditches in the
uplands and above agriculturally rich soils. Houses A and B within, Enclosure 1 (Fig. 12), were
studied and shown to have been occupied contemporaneously. The circular House A went
through four phases of construction and rebuilding (Fig. 13). These phases have been dated
by radiocarbon from charcoal associated with the relevant period hearths. The radiocarbon
dates (UB-2594) for Phase 3 and (UB-2596) for Phase 4 fit comfortably with the evidence of
finds and structural remains. These structures appear to have been built from the local basalt
– the Phase 3 house had basalt door pillars; and the Phase 4 house had wall footings of
basalt.
Unfortunately the dates for Phases 1 and 2 (UB-2638) and (UB-2637), respectively are
somewhat anomalous, and as a consequence the date for the earliest occupation of House A,
and the duration of use of this house is not entirely clear.
The major finds from these various occupation phases were souterrain ware (Phase 1 – 22;
Phase 21 – 14; Phase 3 - 12; Phase 4 – 174), and flakes of worked flint (Phase 1 - 50; Phase
2 – 47; Phase 3 – 117; Phase 4 – 162). Environmental samples from the various hearths
revealed the presence of cereal grains – predominantly barley, with some oat, and one
wheat-seed.
The radiocarbon date (UB-2595) for the hearth in House B seems to indicate that this related
closely with the Phase 4 at House A, and the artefacts recovered were similar (seven sherds
of souterrain ware, and nine flint fragments). No evidence for occupation was found in the
excavation of House C.
The landscape setting of the hut sites and low number of finds suggests that Ballyutoag was
an upland early medieval transhumance settlement.
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