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

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Antrim<br />

Ballyhenry, Co. Antrim<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosures.<br />

Grid Refs: J31228517 (33122/38517) & J31408470 (33140/38470)<br />

SMR No. ANT 051:035; ANT 051:036<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: 1972.<br />

Site Director: C. J. Lynn (Historic Monuments Branch, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Finance).<br />

Two enclosures were excavated prior to the development <strong>of</strong> an industrial estate, which did<br />

not occur.<br />

<strong>The</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> the interior <strong>of</strong> Ballyhenry 1 (ANT 051:035) uncovered an enigmatic<br />

structure just inside the entranceway. This structure was indicated by the presence <strong>of</strong> a row<br />

<strong>of</strong> five small postholes which were interpreted as either the wall <strong>of</strong> a turf-built rectangular<br />

house which left no other remains, or perhaps as the ‘porch’ <strong>of</strong> a longer rectangular house<br />

which spanned the gateway. A possible circular structure in the centre <strong>of</strong> the enclosure was<br />

indicated by a curving gully and posthole.<br />

Finds included three glass beads, two pieces <strong>of</strong> lignite, and 745 sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware.<br />

Ballyhenry 2 (ANT 051:036) was a platform enclosure (approximately 1.0m high at the<br />

centre), surrounded by a ditch (approximately 4.0m wide), an external bank (approximately<br />

3.5m wide), and a further external ditch (Fig. 7). Despite these substantial remains few early<br />

medieval finds and internal structures were uncovered during excavation (e.g. just over 200<br />

sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware and part <strong>of</strong> a glass bead). Evidence for earlier settlement (e.g.<br />

prehistoric pottery and flint), was found beneath the early medieval layers, and it is possible<br />

that the central mound may have originated in the Bronze Age. Radiocarbon dates were<br />

taken from the pre-enclosure structures and the enclosure ditches <strong>of</strong> Ballyhenry 2.<br />

Fig. 7: Plan <strong>of</strong> pre-enclosure phase at Ballyhenry 2, Co. Antrim (after Lynn 1983, 78).<br />

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