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

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Tyrone<br />

Altanagh, Co. Tyrone<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.<br />

Grid Ref: H62256933 (26225/36933)<br />

SMR No: TYR 044:045<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: 1977; Aug. – Oct. 1979; June – July 1980; June – July<br />

1981.<br />

Site Directors: B.B. Williams (Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch, Department<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Environment (N.I.)).<br />

<strong>The</strong> site consisted <strong>of</strong> a megalithic structure set within an earthen-banked enclosure on top <strong>of</strong><br />

a hill. An unlicensed excavation was undertaken on the site in 1977 by the local school, and<br />

this uncovered Bronze Age and Neolithic burials associated with the megalith. Further<br />

excavation was undertaken by the Department <strong>of</strong> the Environment and uncovered more<br />

prehistoric funerary evidence, as well settlement evidence from the early medieval period.<br />

<strong>The</strong> early medieval occupation occurred in two identifiable phases. <strong>The</strong> earliest phase was<br />

marked by an area <strong>of</strong> occupation debris (24m x 18m) which appears to have been contained<br />

within the banked enclosure. Considerable evidence for ironworking was recovered from this<br />

phase – three bowl furnaces and a large deposit <strong>of</strong> iron slag were discovered in a defined<br />

area (Fig. 287). A series <strong>of</strong> stakeholes in the bottom <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> these furnaces may have had a<br />

structural purpose; and another line <strong>of</strong> stakeholes close to the furnaces may represent a<br />

wind-break or similar structure. Several sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware were also found in<br />

association with this furnace, as well as a blue-glass bead and a perforated jet object.<br />

<strong>The</strong> later phase <strong>of</strong> early medieval occupation appears to have occupied the same area as the<br />

first phase. <strong>The</strong> site was covered by a cobbled surface, and a possible low stony bank, with<br />

no external ditch (Fig. 288). Six possible furnace bottoms and a group <strong>of</strong> bowl furnaces were<br />

discovered in this phase. Artefacts included an iron sword – rarely found on early medieval<br />

sites – which was found associated with the bank, and other iron objects (including a<br />

penannular brooch), which were found in association with the ironworking area.<br />

Fig. 287: Early medieval Phase 1 at Altanagh, Co. Tyrone (after Williams 1986, 54).<br />

647

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