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

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Antrim<br />

Antiville, Co. Antrim<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.<br />

Grid Ref: D39130328 (33913/40328)<br />

SMR No: ANT 040:042<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: October-November 1957.<br />

Site Director: D. M. Waterman (Historic Monuments Branch, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Finance).<br />

A souterrain was discovered during work on a marshy area <strong>of</strong> a golf course. Upon further<br />

excavation this was found to have been associated with a rectangular stone-built house (Fig.<br />

2). Both sites have subsequently been destroyed by roadworks.<br />

<strong>The</strong> habitation site was defined by a largely destroyed bank and a ditch, enclosing an area<br />

approximately 25.5m in diameter (Fig. 3). <strong>The</strong> ditch was 4.5m wide, but only 0.45m deep on<br />

the east side, ranging to 0.75m deep on the north side.<br />

Three phases <strong>of</strong> occupation were evident within this enclosure. <strong>The</strong> first phase appears to<br />

have ended with the burning <strong>of</strong> a structure, evidenced by a mass <strong>of</strong> burnt clay. In Phase II a<br />

rectangular dry-stone-wall built dwelling, with rounded corners, was erected. <strong>The</strong> south wall<br />

was shared between the house and the souterrain passage. <strong>The</strong> dwelling was partially paved,<br />

and a hearth was located west-<strong>of</strong>-centre. Bones, charcoal, sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware, and<br />

flints were recovered from the floor <strong>of</strong> this building. <strong>The</strong> souterrain was entered through the<br />

south-west corner <strong>of</strong> the Phase II house. It contained a jumble <strong>of</strong> animal bones, the staves<br />

and bases <strong>of</strong> several wooden vessels (preserved in peat); and the skeleton <strong>of</strong> a young human<br />

male.<br />

In Phase III the floor <strong>of</strong> the Phase II house was deliberately covered in peat to a depth <strong>of</strong><br />

0.22m, and a hearth was set into the floor. <strong>The</strong> original structural timbers appear to have<br />

been retained, but the original entrance was blocked by a possible corn-drying kiln, and a<br />

new entrance was opened up. Animal bones, sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware, a broken lignite<br />

bracelet, and flints were discovered on this secondary floor.<br />

Fig. 2: Plan <strong>of</strong> Phase II house at Antiville, Co. Antrim (after Waterman 1971, 71).<br />

2

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