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The quarterly Newsletter of the Ulster Archaeological Society. Highlighting some of the Society's activities over the past few months.
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EDITOR: Duncan Berryman. School of Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's
University Belfast, BELFAST, BT7 1NN Email: [email protected]
THE ULSTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
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FROM THE EDITOR As we enter the summer, the UAS has already been busy with field trips and surveys. The survey of Island Taggart was a first for the group, as they turned into the SAS and were deployed by boat. The survey of Rough Fort, Limavady, proved a wonderful day and a spectacular location. There was also the County trip to Co. Clare. As always, this was a very interesting trip and some of the highlights are reported later in this Newsletter. This year the Society held its occasional Oliver Davies lecture, held in memory of one of the first archaeology professors at Queen's and a great patron of the Society. We were honoured to have Prof. Martin Carver to deliver this address. Martin provided an interesting and controversial critique of how we have practised archaeology and how it should be carried out in the future. With his military background and experience at sites such as Sutton Hoo, Martin advocates the replacement of the Harris Matrix with a system that traces layers across a site. Recently, the Irish government has published a report entitled "Economic Evaluation of the Historic Environment of Ireland". This major piece of research has shown, as most archaeologists would tell you, that archaeology and heritage is worth a huge amount to the state, through both employment and tourism. Heritage is estimated to support at least 40,000 jobs and be worth €50m. This is much larger than the equivalent for England, reflecting Ireland's extensive heritage. We await the publication of a similar study for Northern Ireland. The Institute for Archaeologists have published their "Southport Report", which seeks to improve the archaeological profession and its relationship with developers and the public. I recently attended a very interesting seminar by Peter Hinton, Chief Executive of the IfA, where he presented how the Southport Report will impact on the profession and how it could be implemented in Northern Ireland. With little sight of an economic recovery, this is still a difficult time for the archaeological profession, But these recent reports show the value of archaeology to the economy and society. The Ulster Archaeological Society will have an important role to play in this recovery. We can provide much of the community input suggested by the Southport Report and can help to contribute to community engagement through our lectures and field survey group. I hope you all enjoy a summer full of archaeological activities and that you participate in NIEA Archaeology Days in June and European Heritage Open Days in September.
Duncan Berryman Newsletter Editor
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ULSTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY EVENTS Lectures 24th September – Prof. Audrey Horning (TCD): A Tale of Five Sites -‐ Deciphering
the archaeological histories of Goodlands Co.Antrim from the neolithic to the 18th century
29th October – Roisin O’Reilly: The Archaeology of Witchcraft and Superstition in
Ireland 19th November – Dr Brian Williams (NIEA): The Economic and Social Value of
the Historic Environment in Northern Ireland 10th December – Robert Chapel (NAC): Oakgrove Cemetery -‐ A unique Middle
Bronze Age cemetery at Oakgrove Co. Londonderry Field trips 25th June – Evening trip to Belfast Hills with Malachy Conway Meet at the National Trust car park at Divis at 6pm 6th August – Evening trip to 14Chrono Centre (QUB) Meet at the Archaeology & Palaeoecology building in Fitzwilliam St at 6pm 18th August – Day Trip to North Sperrins with Claire Foley Meet the bus at Elmwood Avenue 9am
Newsletter Online You can now view a digital version of the Newsletter, with additional content and colour images. Go to http://issuu.com/ulsterarcsoc to view the latest issue and the previous edition. We will also be emailing out a pdf copy to our members. Don’t forget, you can get the latest news about the Society’s events and activities by following us on Twitter and Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/uastwitter http://tinyurl.com/uasfacebook
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SURVEY GROUP
Our survey season began on 31 March with a return visit to the National Trust site at Divis, with a closer look at possible prehistoric hut sites downstream from the sites recorded previously (report on the society website). This was also an opportunity for some of our new members to familiarise themselves with this fascinating landscape.
April proved to be a very busy month for us, as we received permission to fieldwalk the potential flat cemetery site at Kircubbin on Saturday 21 April. This had been eagerly anticipated and a total of 25 of our members descended on the ploughed field. Having marked out the area in forty-‐eight 10m grid squares, we gathered everything artefactual we could see on the surface and bagged it up as we went along. By the end of the day we had gathered up 4 bucketfuls of items, including flints, ceramics and stone and iron objects. It is hoped we can wash and catalogue these soon, so that we can analyse our findings. Despite sore backs all round from all the stooping, it was a very enjoyable experience.
Our scheduled survey for April went ahead as planned the following Saturday to Island Taggart in Strangford Lough. This is quite a large island, some 1 mile long and ¼ mile wide, located off Killyleagh and which was only approachable by boat. This was provided by the National Trust and skippered by Craig, the Strangford Lough Warden. This proved to be quite an experience, as the small boat, laden with surveyors and their equipment, made its way repeatedly to and fro the island, with waves crashing over everyone en route. We were joined on the day by a team of National Trust volunteers, whose job was to cut down the vegetation to facilitate our survey. We had worked with many of these volunteers before on Chapel Island, so it was good to renew our acquaintance with them. Despite our hair-‐raising start, the weather was dry and sunny and many had the interesting experience of getting a sun tan and wet feet at the same time! We divided into several groups and surveyed an enclosure, kelp stores and processing area and an unusual structure that looked like a kiln. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before carrying out a survey of a wonderful stone-‐lined well that the volunteers had cleared. To end the day nicely, Janna discovered some flints on the way back to the boat and these have been identified as Mesolithic.
Our May survey is programmed for 26th, to Rough Fort rath at Limavady. This is a substantial and scheduled monument, but survey has previously been prevented by dense foliage. The National Trust has now removed this, so it should be a very interesting site for us to investigate.
We are again particularly grateful to Mal Conway, whose enthusiasm is legendary. This season he has made extraordinary efforts for us, including our boat trip to Island Taggart and leading the survey at Divis. His support is greatly appreciated.
Harry Welsh Fieldwork Co-ordinator
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UAS WEEKEND TRIP TO COUNTY CLARE By the evening of Friday 4th May 40 members had travelled independently to the Temple Gate Hotel in the centre of Ennis County Clare. This proved to be a very comfortable base for our stay. Ennis is the principal town of Co. Clare, with the present narrow streets and alleys of the town centre still reflecting the medieval town plan, radiating off the market square. The square is the site of a column with a statue of Daniel O'Connell, who, by being elected MP for Clare in 1828 forced the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. The restaurants in the hotel and the near by town centre provided for a relaxing evening before the start of the tour. O n Saturday, by 9 am we had all aboard the bus that would take us on a two-‐day tour, organised by Anne MacDermott, around County Clare. A lot was packed into the two days and the following is a brief summary of the sites we visited with the information largely drawn from the copious notes provided by Anne. Some of the challenges to the bus driver became apparent as he negotiated the narrow roads to drive by the visible remains of Kilbricken Lead & Silver Mines. Lead and silver ores at Kilbricken were discovered in 1833 and were worked until 1850. Visible today are the ruins of one engine house, an intact, ivy-‐covered chimney and the remains of a powder store. Our first stop was at the late 13th Century ruins of St Finghins church a long, rectangular ruin measuring 79’ x 27’. Its main features are the remains of a richly moulded window in the south wall, two narrow lancet windows and a triple lancet in the east-‐gable window. A slim square tower about 56’ in height was later built at the south-‐eastern corner (15th C), with the door opening into the church. At Quin Friary & Castle, Joe McCooey of the O.P.W. gave us a conducted tour. The remains of the original 13th C Norman Quin Castle, destroyed by the MacNamaras, can be seen to have been incorporated into the later 15th C friary. The work of constructing the friary was provided by inexperienced MacNamaras under the supervision of a small number of expert masons. The improving quality of the work was evident in the later construction work. The presence of individual masons’ marks are still to be seen throughout the building. Suppressed in the 16th C, the English occupied friary was destroyed by an Irish force at the end of the 16th C. By 1548 it had fallen into disrepair. The mid 17th C saw the Cromwellians desecrating what was then a college for 800 students. In the Nave the original plaster remains of a depiction of the crucifixion on an interior wall was still just discernible despite the best efforts of the Cromwellian demolition squad. Many of the rooms that were part of the everyday life of the Friary including very fine Cloisters and refectory were visited. A Lavabo type wash facility for holy robes, with a support for a cross bar visible, with an outlet down into the bedrock for drain water and ornate carved arch interior was shown to us.
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Our route passed the Magh Adhair, a 20 ft high flat-‐topped inauguration mound for the Kings of Thomond, thus the probable inauguration site of Brian Boru, in the 10th C. The cutting of a sacred tree on the site started a great struggle between Brian Boru and Malachy, High King of Ireland. This site was important for inauguration ceremonies and meetings from the 9th C right up to the time of the great famine. Our next stop was to Beal Boru, home of Brian Boru. This was a large rath, modified in the Norman period as an unfinished 70 m to 75 m diameter motte, situated on a steep spur of gravel overlooking the River Shannon and Killaloe. A pleasant walk took us to the bluebell covered steep slopes of the structure. The large number of artefacts found in the immediate area indicates the strategic importance of this site from Neolithic times. At Killaloe, St. Flannan’s RC church has a stunning Henry Clarke stained glass window. Lunch was taken in the grounds beside the 10th C St Molua’s Oratory. After lunch we went to Killaloe Cathedral. First built and destroyed in the late 12thth C, it was rebuilt late 12th, early 13th C. A beautiful oak and glass screen separates the nave and chancel. This was to conserve heat for small congregations. A 12th C High Cross is sited in the nave, placed by Bishop Mant in 1821. The spectacular Hiberno-‐Romanesque doorway from the earlier church is also preserved. It has over 130 patterns of plants and animals -‐ no two exactly alike. There is also an Ogham stone that has a runic (Scandinavian) inscription. It may have been carved by a Viking convert to Christianity. A rectangular font is from the 13th C was set up on the present base by Bishop Mant in 1821. The beautiful East Window has three lights that symbolise the Holy Trinity and the figures portrayed are those of Christ surrounded by the twelve apostles. The stonework of the arches is also rich and intricate in design. The guide for our tour, Brian Breslin, who had been the organist at Robin and Ruth Collins’ wedding, led us on a tour of the Cathedral. After giving us the tour of the cathedral our guide played the organ for us. This provided another aspect to appreciate in that historic place. A group were led up many steps, past the bells, to the roof where we enjoyed magnificent views of the surrounding country side. Before descending from the belfry our talented guide completed his tour by demonstrating the chiming of the bells. Our last visit of the day was to Mooghaun Hillfort. Mooghaun is a large trivallate hillfort enclosure dating to 1260-‐930 B.C.E. The outer wall encloses 27.18 acres, the middle enclosure contains 7.41 acres and the inner enclosure contains 2.04 acres. The ramparts can be as much as 12 m wide in some places and over 2 m in height. Mooghaun would have required a considerable amount of labour and time to create. Its use has been debated -‐ it could have been for defensive, ritual or communal purposes. It was a pleasant walk upwards through the three ringed Bronze Age hill fort to its summit, passing a small cashel and some hut sites. Unfortunately, the view from the top was blocked by trees. Nearby, in March 1854, workmen discovered a hoard of elaborate gold ornaments. Unfortunately many of the objects were sold for trifling sums and many more were melted down for the value of the metal. If the Clare find had been preserved in its entirety, it would have proved to be the largest collection of gold objects ever discovered in Europe.
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Our first stop on Sunday morning (6th May) was at Dysert O’Dea castle, a 15th C Tower House, badly damaged by the Cromwellians in 1651. It remained home to the O'Dea clan chiefs until 1692, when they had their lands forfeited. It subsequently fell into ruin. It was repaired and opened in 1986. The castle now houses an extensive museum, tea rooms and exhibitions of local artefacts and finds. In one room an audiovisual presentation covers the history of the site including the Battle of Dysert O’Dea. The tower house stands 5 storeys high with the entrance on the north side protected by a murder hole and a machicolation at roof level. There is a guard chamber to the right of the entrance and a fine spiral stairway to the left, rising through the northeast corner. There are 28 loop holes and small windows, with 2 larger windows higher up. The roof and crenellations are modern, reconstructed in the refurbishment of the 1980s. The Abbey Church at Dysert O’Dea probably dates from the 12th C but it now incorporates elements from other buildings. It has been heavily repaired and reconstructed over the years. Nevertheless, it has some particularly interesting features, even though they are not quite original. The most important feature of the church is the magnificent Romanesque south doorway, with a four-‐order arch. To the north west of the church are the remains of a Round Tower about 60’ in height and 61’ in circumference at the height of 5’ from the ground. When complete, this would have been one of the tallest round towers in Ireland, about 100’ high. In a field to the east of the church is an unusual 12th C High Cross that was repaired by Michael O’Dea in the 1680s and restored again by the Synge family in 1871. It is decorated with a mixture of geometric patterns and representations of Christ and probably St. Tola. We travelled into the heart of the Burren to view the Caherconnell Stone Fort, Dr Michelle Comber of N.U.I. Galway gave us a very comprehensive tour of the site. Faced with competition from a loud cuckoo, she explained that the conditions in the area have resulted in preservation of remains from Neolithic to modern times. The site is positioned at a north south pass through the Burren landscape and in an area favourable for agriculture. After three seasons of surveying a wider area, efforts were concentrated on excavating at the Cashel. The enclosure at Caherconnell is a circular, drystone ringfort or cashel that measures 42m in external diameter, with walls up to 3m wide at the base and up to 3m high externally. Work has shown construction in the 10th C or 11th C with occupation to the 12th C and a rectangular structure built on the levelled earlier material in the 15th/16th c. Evidence of post occupation (17th/early 20th C) use of the cashel as an animal pen has been found. We then visited a Doline, a natural sink hole located 20m south east of the cashel. This contained a late Neolithic or early Bronze age rectangular house and also a 2 m diameter dry stone circular chamber, thought to be medieval. Disarticulated remains of three individuals, carbon dated to the 15th/16th C C.E., were discovered at the entrance to this chamber. Ongoing excavations by the Caherconnell Archaeological Field School are planned for this site. The excellent café at Caherconnell made the perfect venue for our lunch.
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The Poulnabrone Portal Tomb has a thin capstone that sits on two 1.8m high portal stones to create a chamber in a low cairn. It is spectacularly set, on the karst limestone pavement of the Burren, which creates an almost lunar landscape. However, the occurrence of wild flowers in the pavement gaps produced the unique May Burren landscape. Excavations during repair showed that this site dated back to about 3800-‐3600 B.C.E. Human remains were found in the chamber, its portico, and in the grykes. A number of grave goods were also found in the tomb -‐ a polished stone axe, two stone disc beads, a perforated bone pendant, part of a bone pin, two quartz crystals, flint and chert arrowheads and scrapers, and over 60 sherds of coarse pottery. The Portal Tomb and its unique setting, visited on a beautiful clear day, provided a memorable experience. The drive from Poulnabrone allowed us to go through the middle of the Burren country and to appreciate its unique character. A colony of monks arrived at Corcomroe amidst the mountains of the Burren sometime between 1194 and 1195. Corcomroe Abbey has a plain aisled nave, accessed by a 15th C west door (off centre) but the east end of the building is distinguished by School of the West ornamental stone carvings, including images of human and animal heads and plants and flowers. The tomb of Conor na Siudaine can be seen, showing the king wearing a crown decorated with fleur de lis. One hand holds a sceptre (some say a pipe!) and the other holds a reliquary suspended from his neck. His robe falls in long pleats to below the knee with the feet resting on a cushion. Our drive to Kilfenora Cathedral included a stop at Corkscrew Hill that afforded panoramic views of the Burren with Galway Bay visible in the distance. The diocese took root from the Abbey that was founded here by St Fachtnan about 650, it was burned in 1055 by Murrough O’Brien who slew many of the inhabitants. It is believed that seven crosses originally stood at Kilfenora. Some of those surviving were removed to the Lady Chapel for conservation in 2003 and are protected from the elements by a Perspex roof erected over the chapel. Three now stand within the church, one in a field to the west, and one moved to Killaloe. There are historical records referring to others, now destroyed. Kilfenora Cathedral is dedicated to St. Fachtnan who founded his monastery here during the 6th C. The present structure dates from 1189 to 1200. The nave and chancel were separated, with the nave refurbished to form the present Church of Ireland church. The recently restored lady chapel (sacristy or chapter room) is accessed from a door in its west wall. Two lancet-‐type windows and a ruined two-‐light one are left in the eastern wall. The Doorty cross, North Cross and remains of the South cross have recently been placed here for protection. The High Cross, or West Cross is 4.5m high is situated in a field near the cathedral. The area we visited was filled with stories of inter family warfare, battles with invaders and a turbulent history. However, it provides a marvellous place to visit today. Our last group meal was again excellent. Thanks were expressed to Anne MacDermott for all her work in arranging such an excellent weekend with accompanying good weather.
Lee Gordon
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PHOTOS OF CLARE TRIP
By Pat O’Neill
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MARCH LECTURE The March lecture of the Society was given by Iain Meighan, a former lecturer at Queen’s and currently a researcher at Trinity College Dublin. The title of his lecture was “Quartz from the south, granite from the north: The geoarchaeology of Newgrange”. Iain began his lecture by providing some history about Newgrange and its discovery. Previously, it was believed that the granite cobbles were from Rathcore and the greywacke of the kerb stone had been shown to come from counties Armagh, Down and Louth. But recent research by a large team of academics and scientists has shown that the quartz and granite have very different sources. The research started by measuring all the quartz and granite cobbles on the face of Newgrange. This showed that the granite was water rounded cobbles but the quartz was much more angular. After careful inspection, the granite was shown to be Newry or Mourne granite; but there was no evidence of Leinster granite. The site at Rathcore is made up of glacial boulder clay drifts, which contained fragments of Newry and Mourne granite, but not as water rounded cobbles. The quartz was much harder to source, requiring the use of trace elements. The Wicklow mountains have much quartz and this was the closest match to the quartz at Newgrange. The area near Roundwood proved the closest match to the size of the fragments on the monument. Research at Knowth has suggested that it had Newry granite and Tyrone Gabbro pebbles, collected from Dunany Point. The team are expanding their research to include a number of different techniques and continuing some of their current methods. There will be further field work in Wicklow to refine the source of the quartz. One of the main developments is the use of portable x-‐ray fluorescence on the basin stones of the three passage tombs at Brú na Bóinne and the tombs at Loughcrew. This will help to identify the source of these important stones. The use of these stones suggest a number of different interpretations. The first is that this was a symbolic landscape and that the builders were choosing to bring stones from mountains to the north and south to a valley that lay half way between them. An alternative idea is that the stones signified gender, with the quartz representing masculinity and the granite representing femininity. However, it could have been one of the first “cross-‐community projects”, with groups of people coming together from the north and south, bringing granite and quartz, to build this monument to their dead. We can never know the true meaning of these structures and stones, but this research is helping us to understand more about their geoarchaeology.
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APRIL OLIVER DAVIES LECTURE In April, the Ulster Archaeological Society held its occasional Oliver Davies lecture. On this occasion, it was given by Prof. Martin Carver, professor Emeritus at the University of York. His lecture was entitled “The Business of Archaeology: its product, clientele and social utility in the age of nano-‐digging”. He lost no time in creating an impact opening statement which hit raw nerves for many of us who intend to pursue careers in archaeology. He admitted that one of the great worries for students who enter commercial archaeology is how they lose heart because they are not challenged in their work. After years of research, study and continually striving for excellence, the excitement diminishes in the real world as challenges cease. The archaeologist is not a labourer, he said, it is a profession built on intuitive, creative processes as much as any art. We work with science and soil, past and future all balanced to produce the tantalising glimpses at our pasts, which fascinate the layperson. Learning the Harris Matrix system doth not an archaeologist make, he claims. Sensitivity and flexibility to social contexts, unique terrains of sites and a willingness to change the game plan can make the difference between a good site and a great site. He gave examples, such as the Cambodian Iron Age burial site of Bit Meas. The site contained many gold grave goods and artefacts, but the local people had looted the area as a response to their own struggle to survive in conditions of abject poverty. The German archaeological team responsible for the site recruited the looters into the squad of diggers, offering good wages in exchange for their knowledge of their own folklore/history and their skills at knowing where to dig. Being aware that terrain and landscapes abroad will be very different from that of the United Kingdom can assist excavations immensely – it sounds painfully obvious, yet it has sometimes to be stated in a profession which holds so many traditional methodologies. From hazardous Siberian permafrost digs to sun-‐bleached sands in Australia, giving up Mesolithic tipi sites, Prof Carver states eloquently that if you want the earth to talk to you, you must communicate with it in on its terms. This does not always mean a heavy trowelling back of an area. Nor does it mean Schnitt, Box or Pit techniques of excavation. No one way is correct. They all have merits in different terrains and conditions. When it comes to recording site information, the Harris Matrix often omits a great deal of the complexity of major sites. Carver suggested a model similar to that which he used on Portahomack, the 8th century Pictish monastery in northern Scotland. Instead of recording contexts in a linear fashion, one should create a model of interactions between features and contexts. The overall picture that emerges, he claims, offers more intensity of understanding and a richer image of how people once interacted within a given site. The idea of changing how we record site information led to the next reassessment of archaeological dogma. Demonstrating with a chart, Carver correctly said that once we associated excavation with large items and artefacts – jewellery, weapons, tools and
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buildings. As technology has progressed, the idea of excavating has entered a nano phase, of lipids, mitochondrial DNA and microscopic assemblages of pollens and foraminifera. As the focus on detail gets smaller, expectations of accurate dating and ever more information increases-‐ as does costing. Prof Carver detailed new technologies such as chemical mapping, pioneered by Karen Milek. Using the chemical profile of decayed matter, such as Burial Mound 2 at Sutton Hoo, or the longhouse at Hofstadir, Iceland, habitation details can be recreated with no actual remaining structures. Likewise, the archaeomagnetic techniques being pioneered in Australia by Andy Herries offer much to confirm Palaeolithic and Mesolithic settlements that are often almost unidentifiable by conventional analysis of stratification and artefact typologies. These are all research–led disciplines, from specialists excited to be doing what they trainned to do. Many in commercial archaeology, feeling unfulfilled would jump at the chance to redeploy the skills they honed in university and apply them to the commercial sector. Yet, techniques such as these ‘nano’ research areas are simply not costed into projects. We live in an economic climate of competitive tender, and the sad fact of life is that you often get exactly what you pay for. Putting heritage to contract to the cheapest bidder is a folly our own society really cannot afford. Yet it can be so very different when archaeology is respected and well covered financially, such as the current Crossrail project in Great Britain, where archaeologists, engineers, contractors and everyone else involved has representation in the boardroom, in a fully integrative approach to building and excavating. Prof Carver asked point blank then, ‘Does mitigation then mean research?’ His opinion is that it cannot be – research and mitigation are under two different Government bodies, but it would solve a great deal of misunderstandings even within archaeology itself if they were equated. Academics, he said, often don’t appreciate the frustrations of the commercial sectors limitations. In conclusion, Prof Carver asked for a radical rethink of everything within excavation, for us to examine our profession for its own survival and regeneration. He proposed a system of integration, from the universities, the engineering sector that has skills we need to learn, to researchers in the newest and most dynamic of areas–including societies of passionate and enthusiastic laypersons, just like many of the Ulster Archaeology Society. His view that we have been too insular and stagnant for too long is radical, and challenging, but perhaps what is needed to energise the discipline. Prof Carver understands the ‘real world’ as well as he understands academia. Any area of research needs to keep abreast of new developments in other areas of study apart from their own. This was a controversial speech, but by the applause from an audience of lecturers, students and enthusiastic amateurs, it was appreciated and timely.
Rena Maguire
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NIEA Archaeology Days Some highlights from this year’s Archaeology Days. Check out www.ni-‐environment.gov.uk/events or look out for publications from NIEA to find out more. Dunluce Castle: Sat 30th June, Sun 1st July, 12 – 5pm Meet the Lord and Lady. Lord Randal and Lady Catherine McDonnell will explain the fashions of the day and their lavish lifestyle in Dunluce during the reign of King James I. One of the popular pursuits of the day was “golff”, learn how this sport may have come to the Antrim north coast. Ram’s Island: Sat 23rd June, 12noon From Sandy Bay, A Guided Tour of Rams Island An opportunity to visit this intriguing island and learn about its diverse history and wildlife. The remains of a Round Tower, and “Cottage Orne”, the tree lined avenue and gardens and evidence of the presence of the American Army during World War II, all will be explained in this fascinating tour. Bring a picnic. Tea and Coffee will be available aboard the Floating Interpretive Centre moored at the Island. As this involves a boat trip there will be a charge to cover fuel costs of £6 per person, children half price. Numbers are limited, pre-‐ booking is essential. For further information and to book, phone – 028 9054 3030 Groups can book trips on other Saturdays in June and there will be regular trips and tours every Saturday during July and August. Beaghmore Stone Circles: Thurs 21st June, 3.30 – 7pm Celebrate the summer solstice at this enigmatic Bronze Age site, meet our “ancestors” and learn about their way of life, what tools they used and the importance of the circles to determine the correct time of year to sow and reap their crops and the rituals that may have happened. Let our NIEA expert guide you round the site whilst explaining the archaeology and the historic landscape. Families can have a go at making a Bronze Age pot, making their own “stone circle” and having a fun evening. Nendrum Early Christian Monastery: Sat 23rd June, 12 -5pm. The feast day of St. Mo-‐Choí was a great event in the Nendrum calendar and a time of festivities at the monastery. Come and help us celebrate this important event on Saturday 23rd June. Thomas McErlean (co-‐author of Harnessing the Tides) will be on hand to guide you though the archaeology of the monastery and its internationally significant tide mills. The BBC’s Ghosts of Nendrum Mediascape brings to life past inhabitants of the historic site. Explore Nendrum using a GPS mobile device, and discover the nine ghosts that haunt the ruined monastery. Return the artefacts to their rightful owner to put the ghosts to rest and unlock the secret of Nendrum. http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/mobilelearning/nendrum/index.shtml Admission is free.
For more information on any of these events, call 028 9054 3030.
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NIEA LECTURES Northern Ireland Environment Agency is providing a series of public lectures from 1.00pm to 2.00pm on the first Friday of each month of 2012. The venue is the Monuments and Buildings Record public reading room in Waterman House, 5-‐53 Hill Street, Belfast BT1 2LA. Information: 028 90 543 159 or email [email protected]. Admission is free. All welcome. Space is limited at these talks, so please come early to avoid disappointment. 6th July David Kilner, Archaeological Development Services -‐ Recent Archaeological Investigations in Northern Ireland 8th August Mark Gardiner, Queen’s University, Belfast -‐ A Lost World? The little-known archaeology of the Garron Plateau, Co Antrim 21st September 1.00pm Malachy Conway, The National Trust – An Archaeological Survey of Divis and the Black Mountain 21st September 6.00pm Terence Reeves-‐Smyth, NIEA – The Annesley Inheritance: Castlewellan, Mount Panther and Donard Lodge 5th October John Meneely, Queen’s University, Belfast -‐ Mapping, Monitoring & Visualising our Built and Natural Heritage in 3D 2nd November Emily Murray, Queen’s University, Belfast, Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork -‐ Carrickfergus Castle Barracks 7th December John O’Keeffe, NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit -‐ Title to be confirmed
EUROPEAN HERITAGE OPEN DAYS This year, EHODs will take place on 8th and 9th September. This is Northern Ireland's version of the European celebration of cultural heritage initiative. Again, theorganisers have attempted to make this year’s event bigger than previous years and to include more buildings than before. Watch out for the publication of the full list of buildings and events to be published later in the summer. But in the meantime, you can connect with EHODs and NIEA through their dedicated Twitter and Facebook sites – www.twitter.com/ehodni and www.facebook.com/ehodni
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NOTICE BOARD
Day of Archaeology – Friday 29th June 2012 This is an online project that started last year to promote archaeology and raise awareness of what archaeologists across the world do every day. Last year’s event brought out 400+ archaeologists, and almost 450 separate posts including lots of photos, video, audio and more. So, if you are doing something archaeological on that day, or around that day, then you can contribute to the website – email [email protected] to register. You can follow the contributions and find out what archaeologists across the world are doing on the website -‐ www.dayofarchaeology.com and following the Twitter hashtag #dayofarch
Downhill Project – June & July 2012 For the fourth year running, the National Trust is organising a programme of excavation at the Bishop’s Palace Downhill. This is an opportunity for anyone to join in the excitement of an excavation and all age of volunteers are welcome. In the previous seasons, everything from RAF plates, 19th-‐century wine bottles, Roman statuary and even a Bronze Age bowl have been uncovered. Why not find out more about the history of the Earl Bishop, who built this amazing building, by reading Stephen Price’s interesting book about the man – The Earl Bishop. Available from Waterstone’s Coleraine and Amazon. Contact Malachy Conway ([email protected]) if you want to volunteer and be involved.
DigVentures DigVentures is a new archaeological company that has recently been launched in England. Like other commercial units, it is committed to high quality archaeological research and investigation. Their first project is further investigations at Flag Fen, with such well-‐known members of staff as Francis Pryor and Raksha Dave. The team have managed to reach their target of £25,000 to fund this year’s season of work at Flag Fen. They still need your support, both financial and moral, to complete this project. Visit their website to find out more about the project and donate -‐ http://digventures.com/
If you have some news, something to advertise or a request for information about something you are researching and want it to be put on the Notice Board, please contact the Editor.
Belfast Hills Partnership The Belfast Hills Partnership is organising a Belfast Hills Heritage Festival entitled – History in the Heart of the Hills. Go to http://www.belfasthills.org/content/history-‐heart-‐hills-‐belfast-‐hills-‐heritage-‐festival to find out more and download a leaflet.
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BOOKS
Rathlin Island: An archaeological survey of a maritime landscape By Wes Forsythe, Rosemary McConkey. £30, available from TSO (www.tsoshop.co.uk) or NIEA. Yet again the staff of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, UU Coleraine and NIEA have produced an excellent publication, covering everything from the natural history of the island and its archaeology to its industries and settlement. Lavishly illustrated throughout, with excellent diagrams and colour photographs, this book is both informative and attractive. The archaeological survey is comprehensive, covering all periods and many different site types. No discussion of Rathlin would be complete without consideration of the porcellanite mine at Brockley and Bruce’s Cave and Castle. All of these sites are explored in some detail, including new investigations at Bruce’s Castle. Dunluce Castle: History and Archaeology By Colin Breen. See ad on back page for more details. Available from July. This book promises to fill a deficit in archaeological knowledge in Northern Ireland; complimenting the work of Tom McNeill and Ruairi O'Baoill on Carrickfegus, we now have a publication on one of the most iconic buildings in the country. With the background of a number of seasons of excavation at, and research into the castle, Colin Breen is the best person to write the history of this building and its people. The Archaeology of Slieve Donard: A Cultural Biography of Ulster’s Highest Mountain By Sam Moore. £10, available from NIEA. This book examines the monuments on the summit of Donard, through myths and legends associated with the cairns and St Donard (a hermit disciple of Patrick). The mountain was used by pilgrims as part of a penitential journey during Lughnasa up to the 19th century. By 1826, the OS had demolished the cairns to facilitate the mapping of Ireland and during the 20th century, the Mourne Wall was constructed. This book highlights the importance of this mountain and how people have interacted with it over the centuries. Bargains from Oxbow Oxbow Books have a number of titles at discounted prices in their latest bargain catalogue that may appeal to anyone interested in the archaeology of Ulster. Visit www.oxbowbooks.com for more information and to order. Archaeology of Late Celtic Britain and Ireland -‐ £12.95 A View from the West: The Neolithic of the Irish Sea Zone -‐ £9.95 Defining a Regional Neolithic: Evidence from Britain and Ireland -‐ £9.95 From Bann Flakes to Bushmills: Papers in Honour of Prof. Peter Woodman -‐ £9.95 Text and Gloss: Studies in Insular Language and Literature -‐ £9.95 From Megaliths to Metals -‐ £15.00
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