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

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Antrim<br />

‘Larrybane’ (Knocksoghey td.), Co. Antrim<br />

Early Medieval Promontory Fort.<br />

Grid Ref: D04824512 (30482/44512)<br />

SMR No. ANT 004:005<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: 1935; April 1954<br />

Site Director: V. G. Childe (Edinburgh University); V. B. Proudfoot & B. C. S. Wilson<br />

(Historic Monuments Branch, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Finance).<br />

<strong>The</strong> site is a promontory fort which was partially excavated by V.G. Childe in 1935. It was<br />

later threatened by quarrying, and was further excavated in 1954 (Fig. 32).<br />

<strong>The</strong> 1954 excavation was largely focused on the interior <strong>of</strong> the site. No structural remains <strong>of</strong><br />

house walls were discovered. However, some roughly cobbled floors were found which<br />

suggest that the houses may have been rectangular.<br />

An iron ring, nail and sickle were found on site, and the presence <strong>of</strong> slag suggests that<br />

ironworking was undertaken on site. <strong>The</strong> exotic material found on site – a fragment <strong>of</strong><br />

bronze, a glass bangle, and an amber bead – are possible indicators <strong>of</strong> external trade. Around<br />

1500 sherds <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware are recorded for the site.<br />

Faunal remains from this excavation show a higher percentage <strong>of</strong> sheep bone than normally<br />

found on other early medieval sites - (Cattle (44.7%); Sheep (43.3%); Pig (6.8%); Red Deer<br />

(3.0%); Horse (1.5%). One bone was found <strong>of</strong> dog, cat and hare; and there were also a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> bird bones (domesticates and sea birds), as well as some fish bones (mostly cod).<br />

Fig. 32: Plan <strong>of</strong> Excavations at Larrybane, Knocksoghey, Co. Antrim (after Proudfoot & Wilson<br />

1961-2, 92).<br />

References:<br />

Childe, V. G. 1936. A Promontory fort on the Antrim Coast. Antiquities Journal, 16, 179–98.<br />

Proudfoot, V. B & Wilson, B. C. S. 1961-62. Further excavations at Larrybane promontory<br />

fort, Co. Antrim, Ulster Journal <strong>of</strong> Archaeology (Third Series), 24–5, 91–115.<br />

57

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