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AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

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Down<br />

‘White Fort’ (Drumaroad td.), Co. Down<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.<br />

Grid Ref: J36534397 (33653/34397)<br />

SMR No: DOW 036:008<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: 1953<br />

Site Director: D.M Waterman (for the Archaeological Survey <strong>of</strong> Northern Ireland).<br />

<strong>The</strong> site is a broadly pear-shaped cashel (50m east-west) located on top <strong>of</strong> an isolated knoll<br />

<strong>of</strong> rock, and was excavated as part <strong>of</strong> the Archaeological Survey <strong>of</strong> Northern Ireland. <strong>The</strong><br />

original stone wall is largely scattered, or reduced to ground-level, but appears to have been<br />

approximately 3m to 3.75m thick.<br />

A central raised area was identified as a house platform (Fig. 106). This was excavated and<br />

found to be a multi-phase structure. A pit, partially paved with flat stones, which was covered<br />

by a deposit <strong>of</strong> charcoal, represented the first phase <strong>of</strong> occupation. This pit has been<br />

identified as a cooking-pit, and the sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware from the charcoal deposit were<br />

indistinguishable from pottery found in later house deposits, suggesting that this pit also<br />

belongs to the early medieval period.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Phase 1 house was probably square-shaped, although the structural evidence is rather<br />

inconclusive. Three postholes were uncovered from this phase, as well as a considerable<br />

deposit <strong>of</strong> charcoal. Numerous sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware and an iron plough coulter were<br />

also recovered from this phase.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Phase 2 house was also square-shaped, and the flat stone paving associated with it<br />

suggests that it was approximately 6 metres squared (Fig. 107). Two postholes were located<br />

in the middle <strong>of</strong> the south wall, presumably representing door posts. <strong>The</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the house<br />

was supported by four free-standing internal posts. <strong>The</strong> only other feature within the Phase 2<br />

house was a stone-lined hearth in the centre <strong>of</strong> the house. Occupation debris outside the<br />

Phase 2 house, but associated with it, included numerous sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware, an<br />

annular glass bead (clear green with opaque yellow paste), a fragment <strong>of</strong> shale/jet/lignite<br />

bracelet and two broken quernstones.<br />

A souterrain was located approximately 1.75 metres north <strong>of</strong> the house platform. It was not<br />

possible to definitively link the souterrain with any <strong>of</strong> the house phases, although the<br />

excavator suggested that it may have been in existence during the occupancy <strong>of</strong> the Phase 1<br />

house.<br />

216

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