EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Tyrone
Altanagh, Co. Tyrone
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: H62256933 (26225/36933)
SMR No: TYR 044:045
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: 1977; Aug. – Oct. 1979; June – July 1980; June – July
1981.
Site Directors: B.B. Williams (Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch, Department
of the Environment (N.I.)).
The site consisted of a megalithic structure set within an earthen-banked enclosure on top of
a hill. An unlicensed excavation was undertaken on the site in 1977 by the local school, and
this uncovered Bronze Age and Neolithic burials associated with the megalith. Further
excavation was undertaken by the Department of the Environment and uncovered more
prehistoric funerary evidence, as well settlement evidence from the early medieval period.
The early medieval occupation occurred in two identifiable phases. The earliest phase was
marked by an area of occupation debris (24m x 18m) which appears to have been contained
within the banked enclosure. Considerable evidence for ironworking was recovered from this
phase – three bowl furnaces and a large deposit of iron slag were discovered in a defined
area (Fig. 271). A series of stakeholes in the bottom of one of these furnaces may have had a
structural purpose; and another line of stakeholes close to the furnaces may represent a
wind-break or similar structure. Several sherds of souterrain ware were also found in
association with this furnace, as well as a blue-glass bead and a perforated jet object.
The later phase of early medieval occupation appears to have occupied the same area as the
first phase. The site was covered by a cobbled surface, and a possible low stony bank, with
no external ditch (Fig. 272). Six possible furnace bottoms and a group of bowl furnaces were
discovered in this phase. Artefacts included an iron sword – rarely found on early medieval
sites – which was found associated with the bank, and other iron objects (including a
penannular brooch), which were found in association with the ironworking area.
Fig. 271: Early medieval Phase 1 at Altanagh, Co. Tyrone (after Williams 1986, 54).
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