EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Antrim
‘Meadowbank’ (Jordanstown td.), Co. Antrim
Early Medieval Raised Enclosure.
Grid Ref: J36198506 (33619/38506)
SMR No: ANT 052:047
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: June – August 1995.
Site Director: N. Crothers (Archaeological Development Services).
The site was a mound (40m in diameter), raised 4m above the surrounding landscape. The
site was located on a gentle south-east facing slope, and was excavated prior to a housing
development.
Excavation revealed four identifiable phases of occupation (Fig. 32). The first phase consisted
of the construction of a univallate enclosure surrounded by a large ditch (up to 7.5m wide
and 2.5m deep) and a wide bank (up to 5m wide). The entranceway to this site appears to
have been flanked by a sequence of large postholes and two stone-lined palisade slots.
Several hazel wands recovered from the silted-up ditch of this early phase of occupation have
been tentatively interpreted as the collapsed remains of a bank-top palisade. A post-built
circular structure and associated ironworking pit, along with other truncated postholes and
pits, appear to have been constructed at this time (Fig. 33). A second occupation layer
succeeded these features, but left little structural remains.
The site was then deliberately raised and a souterrain was built into this mound. Finally the
souterrain was deliberately destroyed, but occupation still carried on and is evidenced by
structural traces and cobbled surfaces.
Finds from the site were dominated by souterrain ware (1240 sherds), but two lignite
bracelets; one perforated whetstone fragment; iron working slag; tuyère fragments; bone
pins; bronze dress pin fragments; iron dress pins; and an iron spearhead were also
recovered.
[No plan exists for this site]
Fig. 33: Section through site at Jordanstown, Co. Antrim (from NIEA).
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