Excavations of Prehistoric Settlement at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland 2003 9781407313498, 9781407322926

Table of contents :
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2. THE GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND OF THE EXCAVATION AREA
CHAPTER 3. LATER AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES & THE POTENTIAL TRUNCATION OF THE ARCAHEOLOGY
CHAPTER 4. RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS
CHAPTER 5. PROFESSOR PETER WOODMAN DISCUSSES THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGE
CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX 1. TOOME CERAMIC ASSEMBLAGE
APPENDIX 2. ARCHAEOBOTANICAL ANALYSIS
APPENDIX 3. RADIOCARBON DATES
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citation preview

BAR 609 2015 DUNLOP & WOODMAN EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE

B A R 609 Dunlop and Woodman cover.indd 1

Excavations of Prehistoric Settlement at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland 2003 Colin Dunlop Peter Woodman

BAR British Series 609 2015 15/01/2015 13:45:10

Excavations of Prehistoric Settlement at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland 2003 Colin Dunlop Peter Woodman

BAR British Series 609 2015

ISBN 9781407313498 paperback ISBN 9781407322926 e-format DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407313498 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

BAR

PUBLISHING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the Department of Regional Development Road Service who funded the excavation and publication and to Ove Arup for their advice throughout. Much thanks and appreciation goes to Prof Peter Woodman (UCC) and Dr John O’Keeffe (NIEA) who are responsible for getting this work to publication. We would also like to thank Paul McCooey, (the Site Director), Stephen Gilmore, Robert Chapple, and Jacky Sommerville for edits and feedback on previous versions of the text. Thanks also go to Sarah Nicol, Stephanie Godden and Colin Dunlop for the artefact photographs and site reconstructions and illustrations and to Lianne Heaney for editing and putting this publication together for submission. This site was excavated during a particularly bad winter in 2002/03, however the site crew made the best of the bad weather with fun and frivolity and much appreciated hard work and dedication (& with the help of after work drinks!). Therefore as a small token of appreciation, they are named here in alphabetical order: Jonathan Barkley Aileen Cooper Gavin Donaghy Lisa Doyle Colin Dunlop Edith Gowdy

Lianne Heaney Diana McCormack Vincent Kivlehan James McKee Simon Large Linda McKee Gretta Logue Mike McLean Arlene Matthews Claire Mcginness Paul McCooey (Site Director) Bernard Mulholland (Not forgetting Tina the site cat)

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Sarah Nicol Leah O’Neill Laura Rogan Leilanie Stewart Seamus Walls Neil Yeaman

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ABSTRACT In 2002-2003, the construction of a new road to bypass the village of Toomebridge, Co Antrim, through which the main Belfast to Derry Road (A6) passed, was commenced by Roads Service; an Agency within the Department of Regional Development. As part of the overall planning permission for the Toomebridge Bypass, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) raised a requirement for archaeological mitigation. Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd was appointed to undertake the archaeological excavation of this site. In the course of topsoil stripping a small drumlin on part of the road scheme 2,100 flint artefacts were uncovered. While the majority (approximately 70%) of these dated from the Late Mesolithic, the Earlier Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age periods were also represented. Archaeology was uncovered on the western side of the drumlin. It formed 14 discrete areas (Features 1-14). The features were for the most part structures and ranged in date from the Mid-Mesolithic (Features 1-4), through the Late Mesolithic (Features 5-8), the Bronze Age (Features 9-11), and the late Bronze Age or Iron Age (Feature 13) and the 19 th to 20th centuries (Feature 14).

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Introduction

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Chapter 2

The Geological & Environmental Background of the Area

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Chapter 3

Later Agricultural Practices and the Potential Truncation of the Archaeology

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Chapter 4

Results of the Archaeological Excavations

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Chapter 5

Professor Peter Woodman Discusses the Lithic Assemblage

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Chapter 6

Conclusions

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Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3

Analysis of the Ceramic Assemblage Archaeobotanical Analysis from Environmental Samples Radiocarbon Dates

Bibliography

130 136 137 138

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INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION building of the road and their degree of impact on any likely archaeological material. In most of Areas 3 and 4 normal road construction techniques were applied, whereby excavation to the subsoil was undertaken prior to road construction. In these areas archaeologically monitored topsoil stripping was the agreed mitigation. However, for the most part the bypass was built over peat (principally Areas 1 and 2), some of which was c.2m deep in places. Where this was the case normal road construction techniques, excavating to the subsoil and building the road, could not apply. Instead, a fabric membrane was laid upon the peat and successive layers of gradually increasing sizes of stones were placed upon further sheets of membrane until the road was complete. The load-bearing capacity of the road depended largely on the membrane remaining intact and the settling of the road. In some places as much as a three month interval was left between layers to allow settling which caused the peat below to compact. It was this compaction and its effect on possible archaeology beneath the peat that was of concern to Road Service and NIEA. In these areas, the agreed mitigation was the excavation of several test pits and trenches.

1.1 TOOME LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY The River Bann forms the county boundary between County Antrim (east bank) and County Londonderry (west bank). The village of Toomebridge (also known as Toome) is located on the east (Co. Antrim) side of the River Bann in the townland of Toome. To the south and southwest of the village is Lough Neagh (Fig 1). Toome sits slightly back from the River Bann but parts of the village are regularly inundated when the Bann is in flood, the landscape is dominated by water. Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, which covers 153sq miles (400sq km), and touches five of the six counties of Northern Ireland. Rivers flowing into the lough drain the surrounding land but the lough is only drained by the Lower Bann, flowing out at Toome. The river splits the topography, as far as the excavation area is concerned, into two different types. To the west of the Bann (Areas 1 and 2) the land is generally very flat and liable to flooding. To the east of the river (Areas 3 and 4) the topography is mainly drumlins with attendant inter-drumlin hollows.

TEST PITS AND TRENCHES To allay concerns over the possible compaction of archaeological material it was decided to cut a series of test pits along the length of the bypass. By the commencement of the archaeological exercise, several layers of membrane and stone had already been laid along those sections of the bypass where it was required. In order to preserve the integrity of the road it was agreed that test pitting would only be carried out along the central meridian of the bypass, to either side of the road and within the centre of the three roundabouts. No archaeological material was uncovered in these areas. TOPSOIL STRIPPING In the areas where the peat presented less of a constructional challenge (most of Areas 3 and 4), excavation to the subsoil was viable. In Area 3, the construction of the road required the removal of the west side of a small drumlin. In the course of this exercise, numerous Late Mesolithic flint artefacts were uncovered and a number of features were identified. This led to the decision to proceed to excavation.

Figure 1: Toome location map

1.2 THE BYPASS The Toome Bypass has a total length of 3.5km and is located to the southeast, east, north and northwest of the village of Toome, Co Antrim. It is situated in the townlands of Toome, Brecart and Creagh, is close to Lough Neagh (to its south and southwest) and crosses the River Bann approximately 1km north of the village (Fig 2).

EXCAVATION All of the archaeological material from the excavation phase was uncovered in Areas 3 and 4 where the bypass cut through a drumlin. The site was located 1km to the east of Toome in the townland of Brecart (Fig 3). It covered an area of 21,000m² on the west-facing side of a small drumlin and represented the footprint of the roadway through the drumlin.

1.3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL MITIGATION In the course of several meetings a strategy for the mitigation was agreed upon by all the interested parties including DRD Road Service, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Ove Arup, Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (NAC) and the contractors, F. P. McCann. The strategy varied in relation to the different construction techniques employed in the

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 2: Location of the bypass. Areas 1-4 are road construction divisions. The archaeological excavation was located in Areas 3 & 4 (Courtesy of DRD Roads)

administrative purposes, the excavation was divided into three Areas: Area North, Area Middle and Area South. A site grid consisting of 10m squares was constructed to allow easier recording of any archaeological material uncovered. Area North consisted of Grids 1-9 inclusive, Area Middle, Grids 10-28 inclusive and Area South, Grids 29-37 inclusive. The site was field-walked and any artefacts found were surveyed in by grid. A picture of archaeological activity across the site was obtained, enabling the excavations to be focused on grids likely to have archaeological potential. A process of grid by grid cleaning of the site was then instigated. This exercise resulted in the uncovering of archaeological features in all areas but mainly in the north of the site. In the course of this investigation, 14 features1 were identified: seven in Area North, two in Area Middle and five in Area South. POST-EXCAVATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL CUTS In an effort to gauge the possibility of Palaeolithic activity, and in order to obtain a transverse profile, three further test cuts were required to be opened on the drumlin. This work was to be undertaken after archaeological excavation had finished on the drumlin. Two trenches were to be excavated at the north end of the drumlin and a transverse profile in the middle. This had the dual effect of allowing a large percentage of the eventual footprint of the road to be archaeologically sampled while causing the least impact to those sections where the road had already been partially laid down. Nothing of an archaeological nature was uncovered during the course of this exercise.

Figure 3: Area of Archaeological investigation, shaded dark grey

Archaeological excavation started at the end of August 2002 and was completed on 28 February 2003. For site

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The designation ‘feature’ was used when many contexts, such as cuts, fills and layers, together formed a single archaeological entity.

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INTRODUCTION

Figure 4: Grid and features marked on topographical map

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND CHAPTER 2 THE GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND OF THE EXCAVATION AREA 2.1

shaped during the last, Midlandian, glacial phase between 23,000 and 13,000 years before present (BP). The clearest imprints of these ice flows are the moraines and flow (north-south) parallel drumlin swarms that developed across thick covers of fluvioglacial till in counties Down and Armagh (Mitchell 2004, 179-198 and Wilson 1986, 59-66). Evidence for the deglaciation of the landscape is found in features formed between the glacial maximum and the onset of the present warm phase (between 17,000 and 13,000 BP). Among these would be features such as eskers, kames, outwash mounds and spreads, kettle holes and melt water channels. Marine, fluvial, aeolian, mass movement processes, combined with climate, sea level changes and human activity during the Holocene (12,000 BP) have further modified the appearance of the landscape. Although the drift geology of the region shows the presence of Late Midlandian till laid down by northward moving Lough Neagh ice, the region is dominated by glaciofluvial deposits formed as the ice abated and the ice margins retreated northward. The deglacial complex in this area is as important scientifically, as for its sands and gravels (Wilson 1986, 82-85).

GEOLOGY AND DRAINAGE

PRE-QUATERNARY GEOLOGY The pre-Quaternary stratigraphy of the region consists of the Tertiary, Antrim Lava Group, comprising the Upper Basalt Formation and the older Lower Basalt formation. This stratigraphic succession dates to between 50 and 60 million years ago (Wilson 1986, 59-66 and Mitchell 2004, 179-198). DRAINAGE The morphology of the region in general is due to the early Tertiary subsidence of the Lough Neagh basin into the magma chamber from which the basalt that underlies a large part of the region originated. This has produced a largely centripetal drainage system from the rim of the basin into Lough Neagh. Eight major rivers flow into Lough Neagh but the system is only drained by the Lower Bann flowing northwards, less than 500m to the west of the excavation site, to the sea (Whittow, 1974, 47). None of the rivers flowing into the system have steep gradients, especially on the clay lowlands around Lough Neagh. A consequence of this is an inherent drainage problem that results in the slopes of the drumlins being the only permanently dry sites in the area. It was this that made the excavation site such a choice location. Human action to ameliorate the effect of flooding was taken in the form of drainage schemes, such as the McMahon Scheme of 1846 and 1856 and the Sheppard Scheme of the 1930s. These lowered the levels of Lough Neagh in the 19 th and 20th centuries. Water levels were further lowered by approximately 3m in the 1940s and 1950s by the construction of sluice gates at Toomebridge. Water levels in Lough Neagh are regulated by the Lough Neagh (Levels) Schemes under Section 1 of the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Drainage and Navigation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955. The current scheme specifies that the water levels of the lough should be maintained between 12.45m and 12.60m depending on rainfall, wind and other natural causes. There is a major difference in current land forms and pre-drainage land forms, with much less marsh and more improved fields. It is still a wet landscape but it is now a controlled one.

DIATOMITE OR BANN CLAY During the maximum transgression the floor of the Lower Bann Valley was flooded in an area south of Portglenone. This may have been caused by the ponding back of the water by higher sea levels (Wilson 1986, 90). Diatomite or Kieselguhr was deposited in the much larger freshwater lake that preceded Lough Neagh. The deposit of diatomite was between 0.6m and 0.9m thick and consisted of the siliceous skeletons of 40 species of diatom that flourished in the then warmer climate. It was deposited on a pre-Boreal peat that had been laid down approximately 10,000 BP (Wilson 1986, 90). Recent research has shown that the deposition of the diatomite around Toome was not uniform and did not spread as far southeast as the excavation (Fig 5). Radiocarbon dating of the diatomite indicated that it was laid down from approximately 6000 BC, indicating that Lough Neagh in the early part of the Late Mesolithic was of a much greater extent than today (Plunkett et al, 2004). Up until the 1940s it was exploited for use in the manufacture of abrasives and silica brick.

QUATERNARY GEOLOGY The Quaternary Ice Age affected the whole of the northern hemisphere. From about two million years ago there have been climatic fluctuations that have resulted in alternate periods of glaciations and inter-glacials (Mitchell 2004, 179 – 198, Mitchell, F, 1998 and Wilson, 1986, 81). During periods of glaciation, ice-sheets covered wide areas while in the inter-glacial periods the ambient temperature was as high or higher than at present. These repeated glaciations during the Pleistocene have produced large quantities of debris, forming the glacigenic deposits that cover over 90% of the landscape of Northern Ireland (DOENI 2002). Their present morphology was principally

2.2 ENVIRONMENT Water dominates this environment. To the west of the excavation area is the River Bann, the major river which drains Lough Neagh and catchment. Its valley has provided a viable living for humans from prehistoric times to the present day. The river, when swollen, can still flood the surrounding countryside, making it difficult to discern where the Bann finishes and Lough Neagh begins, and it is these two natural features that dominate this landscape. The presence of water has also, to a large extent, dictated the settlement patterns within the area. Farms and villages

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THE GEOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND OF THE EXCAVATION AREA are concentrated on shallow drumlins, which often form ‘islands’ with a relatively diverse, well-treed landscape pattern. In earlier times too, people would have been disposed to living on the higher ground.

All of the rivers in the area hold important populations of Atlantic salmon, brown trout and eels, a resource that has been exploited from the Mesolithic onwards.

In a report on land utilisation it was determined that there were 12 natural regions in Northern Ireland (Symons 1963, 12). The region in which the excavation lies is described as the Central Lowlands. The centrepiece of the region is the Lower Bann Valley, which contains relatively lowlying land with a transition from shallow drumlins on the edges of the floodplains to flat open pasture with bog and wet woodland on the fringes of Lough Neagh. WOODLAND The extent of woodlands in the area is, in common with most of Ireland, very small. Approximately 4% is in various types of woodland ranging from demesne woodland, through oak woods and hazel woods to coniferous forest. GRASSLAND AND ARABLE Grassland occupies about 58% of the total land while arable land covers approximately 10% (DOENI 2002). Although both are scattered throughout the region, the arable tends to favour the low drumlins and better-drained soils over the alluvium and peat of the river floodplains. It tends to be rotational with sown pastures rather than repeated cropping of cereals. The improved grassland pastures are usually defined by ditches with very few or poorly developed hedgerows. Scattered throughout the region are abandoned or rough pastures that are associated with the damper soils around cutover bogs or previously reclaimed bog.

Figure 5: Extent of diatomite or Kieselguhr deposits around Toome. After Plunkett et al, 2004

HEATHS AND BOG LAND The Central Lowland region consisting of the Bann Valley and Lough Neagh has one of the highest concentrations of lowland raised bog in Northern Ireland and contains some of the largest areas of uncut lowland raised bog (DOENI 2002). In the areas of uncut bog the peat is sufficiently deep to provide sites for research into the past climate of the north of Ireland. Forest plantation has occurred in mainly cutover bog, especially along banks of the Lower Bann. The woodland cover thus provided is an important habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. WETLANDS AND LAKES There are many important wetland areas within the region, some of which have never been agriculturally improved. The regular flooding of the land, especially in winter, has a particular attraction for over-wintering wildfowl. Each year large flocks of birds including Lapwing, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, Golden Plover and many species of ducks feed on the inundated land, giving the area international importance. In recognition of the area’s importance, Lough Neagh, for example, has been designated an ASSI, a proposed Special Protection Area (SPA) and forms part of a Ramsar Site 2 (DOENI 2002). 2

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat was adopted at a meeting of countries concerned with

wetland and waterfowl conservation that was held at Ramsar, Iran in 1971.

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND CHAPTER 3 LATER AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES & THE POTENTIAL TRUNCATION OF THE ARCAHEOLOGY On the drumlin site, evidence for the truncation of the archaeology was noted. Archaeology was encountered immediately under the topsoil but no upstanding archaeology survived. A high percentage of the overall amount of flint recovered from the site was from the topsoil, with much of that flint showing signs of abrasion suggesting that, while it had not moved far, it had been disturbed and moved around within the topsoil (Chapter 5).

3.1 INTRODUCTION Early ploughs drawn by various motive methods, including human generally did not cut deeply into the ground and so the chance of their doing much harm to buried archaeology was negligible. By the end of the 18th century this situation had changed not only because the technology had improved allowing ploughs to cut deeper and more effectively but also for demographic and historical reasons. 3.2 TECHNOLOGY Ploughs had developed over the centuries until by the end of the 18th century the plough was no longer made solely of wood and was a large affair drawn by one or more horses attached by harness and tackle, rather than simply tied to the horse’s tail (Thompson 2009). This allowed the plough to cut deeper and to displace obstacles encountered in the ground. Larger obstacles disturbed by the plough going deeper would then have to be removed, leading to the further damaging or removal of buried archaeology. The deliberate practice of clearing fields of large stones and obstacles to allow for easy ploughing and to extend the amount of available arable land would also have resulted in damage to any underlying archaeology. 3.3 DEMOGRAPHICS AND HISTORY In the 18th century the population in Ireland began to recover from the devastation of the wars of the 17th century (Beckett 1981, 174). This coupled with improvements in medicine and a ready supply of cheap food (the potato) caused the population to rise until checked by the Great Famine, 1841-1851 (Lyons 1990, 44). This rise in population placed great pressure on the land to produce more food. Generally the people fed themselves on potatoes and farm animals such as pigs and cattle but grew corn as a cash crop to pay the rent. The corn needed the best land whereas the potato could be grown quite well on marginal land. As the population grew so more of the marginal land was brought under the plough or the spade for agricultural use. The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars of the late 18th and early 19th centuries gave further impetus to this general movement. During these wars, the price of corn rose and it became economically viable to grow it on lesser land, which further increased the pressure on the land and areas that had never before seen a plough were brought into production. The end of the Napoleonic Wars and the fall in population subsequent to the Great Famine (Beckett 1981, 343) meant that the pressure on the land to produce was greatly lessened. In the second half of the 19th century the arrival of new technology, including new drainage techniques, allowed more land to be brought into production for purely economical reasons. This has continued right up to the present day.

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS CHAPTER 4 RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS The following section details the archaeological features uncovered on-site, they are described chronologically from earliest to latest. Please also note that the following archaeological conventions have been used:  Cuts are prefixed C  Fills are prefixed F  Layers are prefixed L  Structures prefixed S

three distinct layers within the peat, L1047, L1048, and L1049, showing different phases of deposition.

4.1 FEATURE 1 LATE MESOLITHIC FISHING PLATFORM (PRE 5895-5674 CAL BC) LOCATION Feature 1 was uncovered in Area North at the northeast of the site in Grid B1 (Fig 7). The ground in Grid B1 sloped gently down to the northeast. In this area the subsoil changed from red boulder clay in the west and south to light grey and yellow sand in the east and north, the boundary lying roughly between 13m and 13.5m OD. The sand appeared to have been water deposited, making this interface between clay and sand the boundary between dry and wetland. The feature lay on the sand subsoil and was, therefore, presumably within the wetland area.

Plate 1: Feature 1, looking south

DESCRIPTION Feature 1 (Fig 6, Plate 1) measured 6.75m north to south and a maximum of 3m east to west. It consisted of a Tshaped concentration of stones which lay on top of the subsoil and under several layers of peat. The subsoil [L957] was very fine white gravelly sand. Ten pieces of flint were recovered from the surface of this context:  three pieces of debitage (FN 4249-50 & 4093)  one blade fragment (FN 4091)  three flakes (FN 4092 & 4098-99)  one chunk (FN 4096)  one miscellaneous core (FN 4097)  one possible core fragment or chunk (FN 4881)

Figure 6: Section through overlying layers of peat

L1049, the basal layer of peat, was 0.1-0.2m thick. It was similar in colour and texture to the uppermost layer of peat, L1047, the only difference being the large quantity of leaves, roots and stems from reeds which were found within L1049’s matrix. This layer overlay L1021 and partially overlay S977, the concentration of stone. The natural conditions required by reeds to flourish suggest that either standing or slow moving water was present before the build-up of the peat. Eight flint artefacts were recovered from the upper part of this context:  Two pieces of debitage (FN 3953 and 4083)  Two pieces of burnt debitage (FN 4077-78)  One burnt blade tip (FN 4079)  One flake fragment (FN 4080)  One small bladelet of reddish flint (FN 4081)

The most significant piece was the blade fragment, which was heavily patinated and as such appeared to have been deposited here through water action or had penetrated through the material above. It cannot, therefore, be used as dating evidence for the feature. CONTEXTS Three distinct layers of peat (Fig 7) were found below the topsoil and above Feature 1. They are described sequentially from the base up. The north edge of Grid B1 and the northern limit of the excavation were delineated by a build up of peat, (L1047-49), which was 0.5m thick, dark brown-black and spongy with remnants of reeds in the lower levels. The presence of the reeds indicated that there had been water present but that it was slow moving in channels or was the edge of a body of water. There were

As these were within the matrix of the peat their deposition must have post-dated Feature 1, but as it is possible, and indeed likely, that material deposited on the surface of peat can sink to lower levels; these artefacts cannot be relied upon as dating evidence for either the peat or the feature. A radiocarbon date of 6900±50 BP was obtained from this layer which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 5895-5674 cal BC. This suggests that this layer of peat was deposited in the middle of the Mesolithic period.

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 7: Area North showing Feature 1 within its grid

L1048 was the middle layer of peat and was 0.05-0.12m thick. It was light brown and contained a large percentage of clay and diatomite. The presence of the clay and in particular the diatomite indicates that this area was being sporadically inundated with material from Lough Neagh and suggests that during this period the level of water in Lough Neagh rose on occasion above the level of the surrounding peat. A radiocarbon date of 5970±40 BP was obtained from this layer which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 4953-4729 cal BC. This suggests that the layer of peat, diatomite and clay was laid down in the later Mesolithic.

S977 was a linear concentration of medium and small stones, 6.75m long, 1.3m wide at the north and 3m at the south, with a north to south orientation. The larger stones were located principally on the outer edges of the structure while the interior was filled by the smaller stones (S1123). The stones appeared to continue beyond the stated bounds of the development to the east. To investigate the extent of this continuation a 2m wide box trench was opened which showed that the stones (in this particular area) extended eastward for a further 1m before petering out. The southern part of the structure was wider than the north. The eastern side of the feature was covered, in places, by a layer of black ashy clay (L1021) which contained charcoal and wood fragments throughout. This layer contained 21 flint artefacts:

L1047 was the uppermost layer of peat and was 0.05-0.1m thick. It was dark brown and was very similar in colour and texture to the basal layer of peat, L1049, suggesting that they were both deposited during similar environmental conditions.

 Eight flakes (FN 5239-5243 & 5250-5252)  One cortical flake with retouch (FN 5249)  Six pieces of debitage (FN 5244-5245, 5253-5254, 5248 & 5288)  Two polyhedral cores (FN 5246-47)  One bladelet (FN 5238)  Three core fragments (FN 5255-57)

STONE STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED POSTHOLES The stone structure was formed by S977 and S1123. It was partially overlain by L1021 and postholes C952 and C1124 were found on its northwest and southern edges respectively.

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS All were Mesolithic in date with the exception of one hollow scraper blank, which may have been Neolithic. As with the material found in the peat layer above, it cannot be discounted that this material arrived within this layer by sinking through the layers above or indeed by water action transferring them to this area during flooding. Therefore, the artefacts cannot be relied upon as dating evidence for the structure.

The construction technique used, namely large stones on the outside and smaller stones within, is well known in the building of jetties and walls from the prehistoric through to the relatively recent past (McErlean, McConkey and Forsythe 2002). Only two Irish examples of Mesolithic pier have been recorded; at Derragh Lough (Fredengren 2006) and Inch Island in Lough Gara (Fredengren 2002). At Derragh Lough two causeways, built from shattered stone, were excavated. The eastern causeway measured 21.3m in length and 6m wide, while the western example was 18.3m long and 6m wide (Fredengren 2006). The causeways stretched from an earlier shoreline into the water. No radiocarbon dates were obtained from this site although a range of Late Mesolithic artefacts were recovered. At Inch Island, shattered stones were also used to create a small pier which survived as a parallel line of small boulders, 2m in length, with a gap of 1.5-2m in between. It is likely that the smaller rocks that would have filled this gap had been washed away over time. Again, no radiocarbon date could be obtained directly from this structure. Late Mesolithic artefacts were, however, recovered from the surrounding area and radiocarbon dates from nearby (though possibly un-related) features were Late Mesolithic in date (Fredengren 2002).

C952 (Fig 8) was a small posthole, circular in plan with steep sides and a pointed base, located on the northwestern edge of the stone structure. It measured 0.12m in diameter and 0.08m deep, and was filled by black sandy clay (F951) which contained charcoal flecks and decayed wood throughout. C1124 (Fig 9) was a small posthole, circular in plan with steep sides and a pointed base, located at the southern end of the stone structure. It measured 0.12m in diameter and 0.07m deep and was filled by dark brown sand (F1123). Some small stones which lay around the lip of the posthole may have been packing stones.

The use of stone as part of building platforms in wetland areas and lakes has also been noted at Valencia Island (5720-5300BC, Mitchell 1989) and Moynagh Lough (4313-3980BC, Bradley 2000).

Figure 8: South facing section through C952

The importance of fish to the diet of the Mesolithic people is well attested with fish bones recovered from coastal sites such as Goldcliff, Gwent (5600-4700 BC, Bell 2007), Ferriter’s Cove (5527-3398 BC, Woodman, Anderson & Finlay 1999) and Carding Mill Bay, Argyll (4229-3791 BC, Connock, Finlayson and Mills 1992), riverine sites such as Mount Sandel (7938-4790 BC, Woodman 1985) and lacustrine sites such as Lough Boora (7160-6260 BC, Ryan 1984). There is some evidence to suggest that Mesolithic people may have used spears for fishing. In the Early Mesolithic these may have been composite weapons which utilised a number of flint microliths (Mallory & McNeill 1991, 16), while the later Mesolithic hunters may have used single butt trimmed flint flakes (ibid, 25). The use of organic material (wood, bone, horn, etc.) to create hunting or fishing weapons was also likely (Waddell 2000, 21). Unfortunately, these would only survive in exceptional circumstances and to date no organic-based fishing or hunting weapon has been found in Ireland. There are, however, a few recorded examples of Mesolithic wooden fish traps (McQuade and O’Donnell 2007) with Spencer Dock (6091-5723 BC, McQuade 2007) and Clowanstown (5223-4793 BC, Fitzgerald 2007; O’Sullivan & Stanley 2008) being two examples. These traps were constructed from a weave of slender tree shoots and took the form of a basket, which tapered to a narrow point (Fitzgerald 2007, 12).

Figure 9: South facing section through C1124

DISCUSSION Feature 1 (Fig 10) was located at the north-eastern edge of the drumlin and appeared to have been a stone jetty or pier which jutted out from the dry drumlin, into the surrounding wetland. It can be assumed that the pier was built to allow easy access through the reeds that marked the margins of the wetland area and into the open water beyond. From this point, fishing could be undertaken. Although we have no dating evidence directly from the structure, the layer of peat immediately above it was dated to 5895-5674 cal BC. Therefore, though this feature was probably in use immediately prior to this date, during the middle of the Mesolithic, we cannot say for certain that it was not in use hundreds or indeed thousands of years earlier. The main structure, S977, appeared to be of double row and infill construction. The outer walls were composed of stones up to 0.5m x 0.2m x 0.15m while the infill, S1123, located below L1021 and in between the stones of S977, consisted of small, round and angular stones, up to 0.1m in diameter. There was also evidence to suggest that the four corners were defined by posts.

Though there is no direct evidence for the use of boats from this site it is tempting to speculate that as well as being used as a pier to fish from the posts found at the

9

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND corners of the pier may have been for the tying up of small craft. The earliest boat thus far found in Ireland dated to 5490-5246 BC. This was a canoe formed from a hollowed out log and was uncovered at Brookland townland, on the south shore of Lough Neagh (Breen & Forsythe 2004). However, it is widely accepted that the postglacial land bridge between Britain and Ireland was no longer in place by the time the first humans entered Ireland and although the sea level would have been much lower these people would still have had to use boats to cross the Irish Sea (Breen & Forsythe 2004). Although a number of early dugout boats have been found it is probable that skin or bark boats were also used. Their absence in the archaeological record was due probably to the rapidity with which they disintegrate once abandoned. The presence of Mesolithic material upon various islands within Lough Neagh indicates that use of boats was occurring in this area throughout the Mesolithic period.

Feature 2 was uncovered in Area South, 10m northwest of Feature 8, within grid A33 (Fig 11). The feature lay between 16.5 and 17.5m OD, and the ground in this area sloped northeast to southwest. The subsoil within the grid was orange sandy clay (F2). DESCRIPTION The feature (Fig 12) consisted of three pits: C1597, C1683 and C1664. C1597 was the largest of these pits, C1683 lay immediately southeast and C1664 lay 1.75m to the west. CONTEXTS C1597 (Fig 13, Plate 2) was an irregular ‘kidney’ shape with steep sides and an irregular base. It measured 3.55m long, 2.2m wide and 0.7m deep, with a north to south orientation. The outer edge of the cut was lined with medium to large stones, (S1607), which measured 0.170.46m long, 0.19-0.4m wide and 0.12-0.21m thick. It was filled by F1598, F1599 and F1657. The basal fill was black, sandy silt (F1657) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and had a maximum depth of 0.7m. Above this was light grey sandy silt (F1598) which contained some charcoal and several flint bladelets and debitage (FN 62156225 and 6229-6236). Within F1598 was dark grey sandy silt (F1599) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and some un-worked flint inclusions. A radiocarbon date of 7080±100 BP was obtained from charcoal within F1598, which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 6205-5736 cal BC. A radiocarbon date of 6920±60 BP was obtained from charcoal within F1657, which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 5977-5676 cal BC. The overlap from these dates would suggest that the pit was in use between 5977 and 5736 BC, in the middle of the Mesolithic.

CONCLUSION People living on the drumlin would have overlooked a wetland scene with rivulets and channels that would have been rich in food resources but potentially difficult to access. Feature 1 was a stone pier that allowed access through the reed bed, which must have marked the edge of the wetland, into the open water. This is the earliest feature recorded and predates the other Mesolithic Features (2-8) on the site. 4.2 FEATURE 2 LATE MESOLITHIC HEARTH AND MARKER POST (5876-5736 CAL BC) LOCATION

Figure 10: Reconstruction of Feature 1

10

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 11: Post-excavation plan of Area South

Figure 12: Post-excavation plan of Feature 2

11

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND house, however as no further evidence for this structure was uncovered this can only be speculated upon. The overlap in dates from these three cuts would suggest that they were being used between 5876 and 5736 BC.

Figure 13: East facing section through C1597

C1683 (Fig 14, Plate 2) was L-shaped in plan with steep sides and an irregular base. It was located immediately southeast of C1597 and measured 1.12m long, 0.5-0.65m wide and 0.14-0.2m deep with an east to west orientation. A large number of stones were recovered from the internal edge of the pit. It is likely that these had fallen in and originally lined the outside of the cut. Its basal fill (F1684) was black, sandy silt, which contained a large quantity of charcoal, and some undiagnostic flint flakes, (FN 1684, 6024, 6042, 6042 and 6044), and had a maximum depth of 0.23m. Above this lay F1598, a spread of the material previously excavated in C1597.

Plate 2: C1597 and C1683, post-excavation, looking northwest

4.3 FEATURE 3 PROBABLE LATE MESOLITHIC HEARTH

C1664 (Fig 15) was circular in plan with steep sides and a pointed base. It was located 1.75m west of C1597 and measured 0.35m in diameter and 0.14m deep. It was filled by grey-black, sandy silt (F1656) which contained a large quantity of charcoal throughout. A radiocarbon date of 6820±70 BP was obtained from this feature which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 5876-5617 cal BC. This places the feature within the middle of the Mesolithic.

INTRODUCTION Feature 3 was uncovered in area north, approximately half way between Feature 5 and Feature 11, within Grid D6 (Fig 16). The ground in this area sloped gently southeast to northwest. The feature lay between 15 and 16m OD. The subsoil within the grid was orange-brown clay (F2). DESCRIPTION Feature 3 (Figs 17 and 18) was a single oval cut C226 with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 3.2m long, 1.9m wide and 0.3m in depth and had an east to west orientation. It was filled by F227, F228 and F1011. The basal fill was black, sandy clay (F1011) which contained large quantities of charcoal and some small stones and had a maximum thickness of 0.13m. Above this was light brown, silty clay (F227) which contained small quantities of charcoal, small stones and some debitage and had a maximum thickness of 0.2m. The final fill (F228) was found principally to the north-western edge of the feature. It was dark brown, silty clay, which contained large quantities of charcoal and some small stones, and had a maximum depth of 0.15m. Within F228 was found a fine, fresh example of a simple butt trimmed blade. C1114 was a later insertion into F228 and appeared to have been a stone hole. It was filled by dark brown peaty silt (F1115) and contained a broken bladelet along with a core fragment and a flake.

Figure 14: Northwest facing section through C1683

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The large amount of charcoal within this feature would indicate that it was a hearth, with fills F228 and F1011 representing two phases of burning. F227 appears to have been a silting-up of the feature in between the two burning events. The fresh nature of the butt trimmed flint blade from F228 would indicate that it was in its primary context and would allude to a mid Mesolithic date for the feature. No radiocarbon date was obtained for this feature as it was an isolated hearth.

Figure 15: North facing section through C1664

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION C1597 and C1683 were interpreted as two large hearths that may originally have been defined by an outer ring of medium to large stones. C1664 would have held a post, which may have marked the position of the hearth or may have been used for suspension of food. It is also possible that the post was the central support of a lightly built 12

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 16: Post-excavation plan of Area North

13

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND The fresh nature of the butt-trimmed flake from F58 would indicate that it was uncovered in its primary context and (as with Feature 3 where a similar butt-trimmed flake was recovered) this would allude to an early Late Mesolithic date for the feature. No radiocarbon date was obtained for this feature as it was an isolated hearth.

Figure 17: North facing section through C226

Figure 18: Post-excavation plan of Feature 3

4.4 FEATURE 4 PROBABLE LATE MESOLITHIC HEARTH INTRODUCTION Feature 4 was uncovered at the southern end of Area South, on the boundary between Grids C32 and C33. The ground in these grids sloped gently upwards to the northeast and the feature lay between 15.5 and 16m OD. The subsoil within the grid was orange sandy clay (F2). CONTEXTS Feature 4 (Figs 19 and 20) was a single irregular linear cut, C67, 3m long, 0.5m wide and 0.3m in depth, orientated north to south, with steep sides and a flat base. It was filled by F56, F57, F58 and D59. The basal fill was dark greybrown, silty clay (F58) which contained a small quantity of charcoal and some small stones throughout, and had a maximum thickness of 0.1m. This fill also contained: a butt-trimmed leaf flake in a very fresh condition (FN 4045) and three other flakes, (FN 4263-4265). Above this was orange-brown, silty sand (F59) which contained small stones and had a maximum thickness of 0.12m. The next fill was grey, sandy silt (F57) which contained some charcoal flecking throughout and had a maximum thickness of 0.08m. The upper fill was a thin layer of charcoal rich black silt (F56) with a maximum thickness of 0.02m.

Figure 19: Post-excavation plan of Feature 4

Figure 20: North facing section through C67

4.5 FEATURE 5 LATE MESOLITHIC STRUCTURE (5208-4941 CAL BC)

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The large amount of charcoal within the upper fill of this feature would indicate that in the latter stages of its use this pit functioned as a hearth. However, the lack of substantial charcoal residue from the fills below would suggest that initially the pit was not a hearth and it served another purpose. Unfortunately, in the absence of further evidence it is not possible to deduce the feature’s original purpose.

LOCATION Feature 5 (Fig 21, Pl 3) was in the centre of Area North, southwest of Feature 1 in Grids C4, D4, C5 and D5. The ground in this area sloped gently north and west and lay 14

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS between 15 and 15.5m OD. The subsoil within the grid was very stony clay (F2). Feature 13, a later series of Bronze Age or Iron Age pits, overlay this feature (see Section 4.13).

radiocarbon date for this structure, the radiocarbon dates themselves cannot be deemed as a reliable dating mechanism for this feature.

DESCRIPTION Though initial investigations suggested that there was only a single feature in this area, further examination during post-excavation analysis revealed that there were two distinct phases of activity (Fig 22). The first phase was the building of a 6m long and 5m wide sub-triangular ditched feature (Feature 5) while the second phase saw the digging of eight large pits (Feature 13). These pits were dispersed over a 10m long, (east to west) and 4m wide area and crossed the area encompassed by the sub-triangular ditch. They were not, however, contemporary with it and dating evidence would suggest that they were much later. It should also be noted that this feature produced an extremely disparate set of radiocarbon dates, ranging from the late Palaeolithic to the late Bronze Age, and though all attempts have been made to justify the probable correct

Plate 3: Feature 5, post-excavation, looking south

Figure 21: Post-excavation plan of Feature 5

15

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND F1136 was found sporadically above F694 and had a maximum thickness of 0.05m. It was grey-black coarse, friable, sandy clay, which contained charcoal flecking and small orange/copper-coloured decayed stone inclusions. The decayed stones appeared to have been heat-affected, suggesting Feature 5 may have been destroyed by fire. F1010 was the upper fill of C1009 and had a maximum thickness of 0.2m. It was black sandy clay, which contained large quantities of charcoal and medium to large stones which may have been used as packing stones. This fill also contained 125 flint artefacts, principally Mesolithic in character. However, a few pieces of diagnostically Early Bronze Age date were also recovered (Chapter 5). The condition of the flint was unusual as a high percentage was burnt and this burning was not just confined to tiny pieces of debitage. In total, 91 pieces of debitage and 16 of the flakes were burnt.

Figure 22: South facing section through C1009

Two of the samples taken for radiocarbon dating from F1010 returned dates. The first produced a date of 9720±50 BP, giving a date range when calibrated at 2 sigma of 9293 to 8880 cal BC. The second produced a date of 3690±40 BP, giving a date range when calibrated at 2 sigma of 2130 to 1900 cal BC. When it is also considered that a date of 5208 to 4941 cal BC was obtained from the lower fill of C1009, F694, it has proved difficult to reconcile the three dates. The large amount of Mesolithic material found within the lithic assemblage (Chapter 5) would suggest that the most feasible date for C1009 is that of 5208 to 4941 cal BC. The date of 2135 to 1907 cal BC obtained from the upper fill may be evidence for disturbance from Bronze Age activity occurring in the vicinity, with charcoal-rich material washing into and filtering through the earlier fills of C1009. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that there were also a small number of Early Bronze Age artefacts recovered from C1009. The date of 9293 to 8880 cal BC, a very Early Mesolithic date, is likely to be erroneous, either caused by residuality (burnt wood surviving for hundreds or thousands of years which then ends up within the fill of a much later feature) or by contamination on site or in the lab.

Figure 23: North facing section through C1009

CONTEXTS Feature 5 was roughly triangular and was formed from an 11.5m long irregular L-shaped ditch, C1009, and a 2.5m long linear ditch, C856. There was a 1.5m wide gap between the northern end of C1009 and C856 and a 3m wide gap between the south-eastern end of C856 and the southeast corner of C1009. The interior of the feature was covered in a 0.11m thick clay floor, L1711, and a layer of stones, L791 (most likely the remains of a metalled floor), lay around its north side. Overall, the feature measured 6m north to south and 5m east to west. C1009 was an irregular L-shaped with steeply sloping sides and a U-shaped base. It measured 0.4m-0.8m wide and 0.20m-0.35m deep (Fig 22 and 23). The basal fill, F694, was dark brown, sandy clay, which was 0.14-0.19m thick. It contained a large quantity of charcoal and small to medium-sized stones which may have been used as packing stones. F694 also contained three pieces of undiagnostic debitage and one fractured flake fragment (FN 5600, 4659-4662). A radiocarbon date of 6110±40 BP was obtained from charcoal within F694, which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 5208-4941 cal BC. This would place this fill within the Late Mesolithic period. However, a second sample from this fill produced a radiocarbon date of 5000±40 BP which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 3943-3675 cal BC, placing the feature within the very early Neolithic. The artefactual evidence from this context would indicate that the feature was Mesolithic in date while there were no artefactual indicators of an early Neolithic presence. It is, therefore, possible that this date will have been derived by later small intrusions into this layer which may not have been apparent during excavation. As some of the artefacts recovered from the surrounding topsoil proved to be Neolithic in character, their presence indicates Neolithic activity within the environs of this feature and may account for this date.

Figure 24: East facing section through C856

C856 (Fig 24) was a linear cut that ran parallel to C1009 and at a distance of 2m from it. It had been truncated by pit C840 (see Feature 9 in Section 4.9). It measured 2.8m long, 0.6m to 1.1m wide and had a maximum depth of 0.35m. It was U-shaped, with sharply sloping sides to the west, gently sloping sides to the east and had a northwest to southeast orientation. It was filled by F855 and F859. These fills were almost identical to those of C1009, F1010 and F694 respectively, thus indicating a possible contemporaneity. The lower fill, F859, was dark brown,

16

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS sandy clay which contained a large quantity of charcoal and small to medium sized stones which may have been used as packing stones. It ranged from 0.17-0.22m in thickness. The upper fill, F855, was black sandy clay which contained large quantities of charcoal and medium to large stones which may have been used as packing stones. This fill had a maximum thickness of 0.2m. As with C1009, the vast majority of lithics recovered from this feature were principally Mesolithic in nature (Fig 25). However, once again a few Bronze Age lithics were recovered (Chapter 5).

The retouched tool (FN 6014) is probably the proximal end of a blade. All of these pieces dated to the Late Mesolithic (Chapter 5). This layer would appear to have been the deliberately laid floor of the structure. S791 lay to the immediate north of Feature 5. It was a metalled surface which mainly consisted of small stones that had been pressed into the mud to produce a solid surface. It may have functioned as a working area outside the structure. The surface dimensions were 6.13m east to west and 4.17m north to south. DISCUSSION Feature 5 measured 6m north to south and 5m east to west, and was roughly triangular. It was formed from an Lshaped ditch and two linear ditches, which lay at the northwest end of the feature and formed a 1.5m wide entranceway into it. The ditches contained packing stones and were certainly used to hold either split planks or posts. They were also of a substantial depth, up to 0.35m. Therefore, it can be assumed that they supported a substantial structural component. The interior of the feature was covered in a thick clay floor and a layer of metalling lay around its north side. The defined entranceway to the northwest and the clay floor would suggest that this feature was some kind of habitation structure. However, the 3m wide gap between the southern end of C856 and the north-western end of C1009 suggests that this was not the case. Although this gap could have been covered with a freestanding fence (wicker or possibly stretched animal skins) its width would have lacked much stability and as such it is more likely that this was an open space. It can also be discounted that the structure was incomplete as the presence of the clay floor beyond the theoretical line which would have connected C856 and C1009 indicated that the structure was finished as intended and that the gap was an integral component (Fig 26).

Figure 25: Large blade-like flake, FN 5485

A radiocarbon date of 3880±40 BP was obtained from charcoal within F855, which when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 2470 to 2209 cal BC. This date is close to that obtained from F1010 in C1009 and adds further evidence to the theory that Early Bronze activity in the immediate vicinity caused material of this date to filter into Feature 5. L1711 was found within the structure and was a 0.11m thick layer of yellow-grey clay which covered the entire interior. Several pieces of struck flint were recovered from this layer:  One blade core fragment (FN 5805)  One bladelet (FN 5806)  One heavily burnt blade fragment (FN 5574)  One large amount of debitage (FN 5612)  One retouched tool (FN 6014)

Figure 26: Reconstruction of Feature 5

17

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

4.6 FEATURE 6 LATE MESOLITHIC SHELTERED HEARTH (4707-4619 CAL BC)

On balance, the evidence from the lithics recovered suggests that this structure was Mesolithic in date. Although Bronze Age artefacts were recovered from the upper fills of this feature, they were of such a small quantity compared to the Mesolithic artefacts that it is likely they had been deposited as a result of nearby Bronze Age activities. Although the nearest identified Bronze Age feature on the site was Feature 11 which lay 25m to the south, this material may have been from this feature or from other closer Bronze Age activities which have left no archaeological trace. The radiocarbon determinations for this feature cannot be utilised as a reliable dating source as the dates vary wildly from 9293 cal BC to 1907 cal BC. However, as the artefacts suggest that the main period of activity for the feature was the Mesolithic, and as no Neolithic artefacts were recovered, it can be argued that the radiocarbon determination of 5208 to 4941 cal BC may be from its initial construction phase. The other dates obtained may suggest that there was disturbance of the upper layers of the material in this feature during the Neolithic and Bronze Age, possibly during the period when nearby identified features were in use. The date of 9293 to 8880 cal BC, a very early Mesolithic date, should be considered erroneous as it predates any known human activity previously recorded in the Ireland.

LOCATION Feature 6 (Fig 27) was uncovered on the western side of Area North in Grid F3, 25m northwest of Feature 5. The ground in Grid F3, while being relatively flat, sloped gently upwards in a northerly direction. The feature lay between 14 and 13.5m OD. The subsoil within the grid was sandy clay (F2). DESCRIPTION Feature 6 measured 7m north to south and 8.2m east to west with the south side of the feature truncated by a modern field drain, C205. The feature consisted of 20 pits and postholes, which partially enclosed two north-south orientated linear slots, a circular pit and several ancillary pits and postholes. The circular pit, C325, was midway between the two parallel slots and roughly in the centre of the whole feature. The parallel slots were at a distance of 1.5m from each other. A slightly stonier area, L336, was found to the northwest. It was irregularly shaped and measured 3.64m long, 0.36-1.3m wide and was 0.08m deep. It was orientated east-northeast to south-southwest. A total of 22 pieces of flint were recovered from this area, although none of these proved to be diagnostically dateable (Chapter 5). There is no indication that this was a specifically laid surface; it seems to have been one of the many naturally accumulated layers of stones which were found across the site. The relatively large assemblage of flint artefacts within the matrix of this material is likely to be due to the rougher stony area catching the flint as it was washed downhill and cannot be seen as a direct indicator of activities occurring within the feature. L336 was cut by C332, C1073 and C1077.

The large quantity of charcoal and burnt flint artefacts from fills F694 and F1010 of the main ditch, C1009, indicated that the final act for this structure was its destruction by fire. Although no evidence for such large scale burning has been found on other Mesolithic sites, several early Neolithic sites have provided evidence for deliberate burning. This destruction has been attributed to hostile action, carelessness on the part of the inhabitants or as some form of ritual action. Topping (1996) suggests that the demolition was a final sacrificial ritual, giving the structure to the gods; while Tringham (1991) believes that the destruction occurred when an important family member died. In incidences where the structure was rebuilt we can assume that there was a continuity of use and the idea of an important family member dying would therefore seem more likely. In instances where the structure was not replaced then its destruction as a ritual sacrifice seems more likely. In this case, as there was no indication of rebuilding, it is possible that the burning was a final sacrifice to the gods.

CONTEXTS - OUTER POSTHOLES The outer pits and postholes incorporated C239, C241, C247, C251, C253, C259, C261, C263, C289, C301, C303, C305, C319, C327, C332, C349, C1027, C1031, C1073 and C1077. These are described sequentially in a clockwise manner, from the northwest. C1077 (Fig 28) was sub-oval with moderately sloping sides and an irregular base. It was the most north-westerly of the pits and postholes and measured 0.42m long, 0.29m wide and 0.09m deep, with an east to west orientation. It was filled by dark brown, compacted, peaty clay (F1078) which contained small flecks of clayey sand, charcoal and small rounded stones throughout.

CONCLUSION There are no known Late Mesolithic structures of similar design or scale to that discovered on this site. The evidence suggests this was a substantial structure with a defined entrance in the northwest and gap in the east leading into a central open area. The function of this structure was unclear; however, it would appear that it was a nonhabitation structure.

C332 (Fig 29) was circular with moderately sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.4m in diameter, was 0.05m deep and was filled by dark brown, moderately compacted peaty clay (F331) which contained small flecks of charcoal throughout. A burnt plunging flake, FN 2997, recovered from this feature is indicative of an Early Mesolithic presence, but as the radiocarbon date obtained for this structure (see below) was Late Mesolithic, this artefact must be considered to be residual material from an earlier phase of activity (Chapter 5). 18

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS C1073 (Fig 30) was sub-circular with moderately sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.34m long, 0.3m wide and 0.05m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, loose to moderately compacted, peaty clay (F1074) which contained small flecks of charcoal and small rounded stones throughout.

C319 (Fig 31) was oval with steeply sloping sides and a flat base, which sloped slightly north to south. It measured 0.54m long, 0.42m wide and 0.07m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled by dark brown, loose to moderately compacted, peaty clay (F320) which contained small flecks of charcoal and small rounded stones throughout.

Figure 27: Post-excavation plan of Area North, showing Feature 6 within its grid

19

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 35: South facing section through C289 Figure 28: North facing section through C1077

Figure 29: South facing section through C322 Figure 36: Southwest facing section through C259

Figure 30: East facing section through C1073

Figure 37: South facing section through C261

Figure 31: East facing section through C319

Figure 38: South facing section through C263

Figure 32: East facing section through C303 Figure 39: East facing section through C239

Figure 33: East facing section through C301

Figure 40: North facing section through C1027

Figure 41: North facing section through C247

Figure 34: North facing section through C305

20

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS C303 (Fig 32) was oval with shallow sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.48m long, 0.36m wide and 0.09m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled by dark brown, compact peaty clay (F304) which contained small lumps and flecks of charcoal, and small to medium sized stones throughout. A possible butt-trimmed form piece of flint, FN 4508, probably of Late Mesolithic date, was recovered from the feature (Chapter 1).

Figure 42: North facing section through C249

C301 (Fig 33) was oval with steep sides and an irregular base. It measured 0.52m long, 0.49m wide and 0.08m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by brown, compact, peaty clay (F302) which contained charcoal flecks throughout. C305 (Fig 34) was oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.7m long, 0.35m wide and 0.15m deep and was orientated northeast to southwest. It was filled by dark brown-black, compact, peaty clay (F306) which contained modern tree roots and charcoal flecks throughout.

Figure 43: Southeast facing section through C251

C289 (Fig 35) was oval with gently sloping sides to the east, more steeply sloping sides to the west and a flat base. It measured 0.42m long, 0.32m wide and 0.08m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F290) which contained charcoal flecks throughout.

Figure 44: East facing section through C253

C259 (Fig 36) was D shaped with moderate to gently sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.56m long, 0.4m wide and 0.08m deep and was orientated northwest to southeast. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F260) which contained charcoal flecks and small fragments of burnt flint throughout.

Figure 45: Southeast facing section through C241

C261 (Fig 37) was sub-oval with shallow sides and an irregular base. It measured 0.44m long, 0.5m wide and 0.05m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F262) which contained charcoal flecks and small fragments of burnt flint throughout.

C247 (Fig 41) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.40m long, 0.34m wide and 0.13m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled by dark greybrown, compact, sandy clay (F248) which contained charcoal flecks (F248). C249 (Fig 42) was oval with steep sides and a flattish base. It measured 0.44m long, 0.42m wide and 0.16m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled by brown compact, sandy clay (F250) which contained charcoal and small stones throughout.

C263 (Fig 38) was oval with moderately sloping sides and an irregular base. It measured 0.5m long, 0.27m wide and 0.04m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F264) which contained charcoal flecks and small stones throughout. One undiagnostic flint flake, FN 4382, was recovered from this feature.

C251 (Fig 43) was D-shaped with steep sides and an uneven but rounded base. It measured 0.25m long, 0.19m wide and 0.1m deep and was orientated northeast to southwest. It was filled by dark grey-brown, compact, sandy clay (F252) which contained some undiagnostic flint flakes and charcoal flecks throughout. A layer of grey-brown, loosely compacted, silty clay (F333) was found between C249 and C251. It was located in two small natural depressions, and appeared to have collected by water action. The layer contained a piece of undiagnostic, but worked flint, FN 4387. C253 (Fig 44) was oval with steeply sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.22m long, 0.17m wide and 0.08m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled

C239 (Fig 39) was oval with gently sloping sides and a concave base. It measured 0.57m long, 0.44m wide and 0.1m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F240) which contained charcoal flecks and small stones throughout. C1027 (Fig 40) was oval with steeply sloping sides and a flattish base. It measured 0.54m long, 0.38m wide and 0.07m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by dark brown, compact, peaty clay (F240) which contained charcoal flecks and small stones throughout.

21

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND by dark brown-grey, compact, silty clay (F254) which contained charcoal flecks throughout.

C785 (Fig 49) was oval with steep sides and a pointed base. It measured 0.14m long, 0.09m wide and 0.39m deep, was orientated east to west and was located on the eastern edge of C950. It was filled by dark brown, compact, loamy clay (F1107) which contained charcoal flecks throughout.

C241 (Fig 45) was oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.06m long, 0.05m wide and 0.09m deep and was orientated east to west. It was filled by dark brown, compact, silty sand (F242) which contained charcoal flecks throughout.

C1110 (Fig 50) was oval with steep sides, which angled to the northeast. It measured 0.31m long, 0.23m wide and 0.17m deep, was orientated northwest to southeast and was located 0.1m east of C950. It was filled by dark brown, compact, loamy clay (F1107) which contained some charcoal and patches of dark grey clay throughout. A single undiagnostic burnt flint flake, FN 4597, was recovered from the fill.

EAST LINEAR SLOT AND ASSOCIATED PITS AND POSTHOLES The main cut for this feature was the slot, C207. A pit, C950, cut the middle of this slot. Stakeholes C785, C1106 and posthole C1110 were found along the edge of C207; C1106 to the west and C785 and C1110 to the east. C207 (Figs 46 and 47) was linear with shallow, irregularly sloping sides and a flattish base. It measured 4.96m long, 0.3-0.9m wide and had a maximum depth of 0.39m. It was orientated north to south and contained three fills, F208, F610 and F949. F208 was the upper fill and was brown, compact, peaty clay, which contained sandy lumps and a large amount of charcoal flecks and fragments throughout. It had a maximum depth of 0.07m. Two pieces of undiagnostic flint debitage were recovered from this fill, FN 2380-81. F610 was blue-grey, compact clay, which contained large quantities of charcoal flecks and fragments and organic inclusions throughout. It had a maximum depth of 0.1m and was located to the south of pit C950. F949 was dark red-brown, compact, clayey silt, which contained lumps of sandy clay and charcoal throughout. It had a maximum depth of 0.1m and was located to the north of the feature. Though these fills contained large quantities of charcoal, as both flecks and fragments, there was no indication of burning in situ. The material must, therefore, have been burnt elsewhere and deposited later within the cut. A radiocarbon date of 5880±40 BP was obtained from charcoal within F949 which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 4845-4619 cal BC. This would place the Feature 6 structure within the Late Mesolithic period or very Early Neolithic. This date range overlaps with that obtained from Feature 7, 4780-4680 cal BC, thereby inferring a possible contemporaneity.

WEST LINEAR SLOT AND ASSOCIATED PITS AND POSTHOLES This main cut for this feature was the slot, C1029. Stakeholes C1108, C1102 and C1032 were found along the edge of C1029; C1108 to the northeast, C1112 to the west and C1031 to the southeast. C1029 (Fig 51) was linear with relatively steep sloping sides and a flattish base. It measured 4.29m long, 0.4-0.7m wide, had a maximum depth of 0.09m and was orientated north to south. The north of the cut was truncated by later animal activity. It contained two fills, F1028 and F1030. The upper fill, F1028, was brown, compact, clay-silt which contained charcoal flecks and had a maximum depth of 0.05m. It also contained:  several burnt pieces of debitage (FN 2533, 2556-57, 2715-2716, 3374-76 and 3378)  a burnt flint flake (FN 3377)  a patinated bladelet (FN 2555) The debitage and burnt flake were undiagnostic, while the bladelet was unlikely to have been in its primary position and could be considered to be part of the residual traces from a phase of early settlement at the very northern end of the drumlin (Chapter 5). F1030 was blue-grey, compact clay which contained charcoal flecks and fragments and some small angular stones throughout. It had a maximum depth of 0.05m. It also contained a single piece of debitage, FN 2612, and a retouched blade, FN 2613 (Pl 4). The debitage was undiagnostic, while the bar-form blade was of Late Mesolithic date, although the patination suggests that it was in a secondary context and, therefore, cannot be directly associated with this feature. A radiocarbon date of 5670±90 BP was obtained from charcoal which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 4707-4350 cal BC. This date overlaps the date range obtained from the east linear slot, 4845-4619 cal BC, thereby confirming their contemporaneity.

C950 (Fig 48) was sub-rectangular with steep sides and a flattish base, which sloped east to west. It measured 0.73m long, 0.47m-0.55m wide and 0.2m deep with a north to south orientation and was filled by brown, compact silty clay (F948) which contained charcoal flecks and small stones throughout. C1106 (Fig 49) was oval with steep sides, which angled to the northeast and a pointed base. It was 0.14m long, 0.09m wide and 0.39m deep, was orientated east to west and was located 0.05m west of C207 and 0.4m north of C950. It was filled by dark brown, compact, loamy clay (F1107). At the base of the stakehole there were fibrous, organic remains that may have been the remains of a wooden stake but were too decayed to sample effectively. It was directly opposite and very similar to C785 (see below). It is likely that they held stakes, which formed part of a structure which arced over C207.

C1031 (Fig 51) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It was located on the eastern edge of C1029, 0.2m north of its southern terminal. It measured 0.06m long, 0.05m wide and 0.22m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, loamy clay (F1032).

22

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 50: Northeast facing section through C1110

Figure 46: North facing sections through C207, southern half above, northern half below

Figure 51: North facing section through C1029 and C1031

Plate 4: Retouched blade, FN/F3/1030/2613

Figure 47: Mid excavation plan of C207, showing position of F610 and F949

Figure 52: Northeast facing section through C1108 Figure 48: South facing section through C950

Figure 53: North facing section through C1112

Figure 49: Southwest facing sections through C785 and C1106

23

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND respectively. This would indicate that the feature was in use during the period 4707-4619 cal BC. CONCLUSION Although it cannot be totally discounted that this feature was a house, the presence of the two linear slots make it unlikely. They would have completed bisected the house and would have blocked access from one side of the building to the other. It is, therefore, much more probable that this feature was a large oval windbreak which surrounded a hearth. The slots on either side either provided more shelter or supported a structure that straddled the hearth. The dating evidence would place this structure in the Late Mesolithic and as its radiocarbon dates overlap Feature 7 (which lay 40m to the east) it is possible that the two features were contemporary. However, as the radiocarbon date for Feature 7 of 47784462 cal BC could place it many years before or after Feature 6, it is impossible to determine their relationship accurately.

Figure 54: South facing section through C325

C1108 (Fig 52) was oval in plan with steep sides which angled to the southeast and a pointed base. It was located on the eastern edge of C1029, 1m south of its northern terminal. It measured 0.13m long, 0.1m wide and 0.39m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, compact, loamy clay (F1109). At the base of the stakehole were fibrous, organic remains that may have been the remains of a wooden stake but were too decayed to sample effectively. C1112 (Fig 53) was oval with steep sides and a pointed base. It was located on the western side of C1029, 2m south of its northern terminal. It measured 0.09m long, 0.05m wide and 0.28m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, compact loamy clay (F1113) which contained charcoal flecks throughout.

4.7 FEATURE 7 LATE MESOLITHIC HOUSE AND ANCILLARY STRUCTURE (4778-4462 CAL BC) LOCATION Feature 7 (Fig 55) was uncovered to the northeast of Area North and was located almost exclusively in Grid C4. The ground in this area sloped gently north and west and lay between 15 and 15.5m OD. The subsoil within the grid was very stony clay (F2).

CIRCULAR PIT C325 (Fig 54) was circular with shallow sloping sides and an irregular base. It was located in the middle of the two linear slots, C207 and C1029. It was 0.83m in diameter, 0.04m-0.07m deep and was filled by dark brown loamy silt (F326) which contained a large quantity of charcoal. It is likely that this cut was a hearth.

DESCRIPTION The cuts that formed Feature 7 were not regular in either shape or depth. The lack of regular depth may have been because this part of the drumlin was scarped during the course of agricultural work or improvements in the 19 th or early 20th centuries. Local people mentioned to the author that they believed that the land had been improved though they were not sure when this had occurred.

DISCUSSION Feature 6 measured 7m north to south and 8.2m east to west. It consisted of 20 pits and postholes, which partially surrounded two north-south orientated linear slots, a circular pit and several ancillary pits and postholes. The circular pit was midway between the two parallel slots and roughly in the centre of the whole feature. This central pit, though shallow, was charcoal-rich and would appear to have been a hearth. The function of the two slots on either side is less clear. However, they may have held some form of screen for the fire, or supported a platform which straddled the fire. The surrounding pits and postholes were at times very shallow and irregular in shape. It would seem unlikely that these supported large structural timbers and instead they may have held some form of lighter screen which sheltered the internal features.

A total of 44 slots, postholes and stakeholes, were uncovered. At first, they were grouped together as a single feature but as their extent became clear it appeared that two structures were involved. Although it is probable that these structures were contemporary and formed part of a single structure, they were significantly different in form and were given separate designations of 7A and 7B. Feature 7A was to the southwest and was formed from a series of arcs of postholes, which partially surrounded a northeast to southwest line of postholes. Feature 7B was immediately northeast of Feature 7A and was formed by a ‘U’-shaped series of postholes and slots that lay at a distance of 3.5-4m from a single large posthole. Feature 7A consisted of 28 cuts and one layer, while Feature 7B had 16 cuts.

The evidence from the lithics recovered suggests that this structure was Late Mesolithic in date and indeed that “there was nothing present to indicate a later date for this feature” (Prof Peter Woodman, Chapter 5). The radiocarbon determinations would seem to support this hypothesis, as the dates from the west linear slot and east linear slot were 4707-4350 cal BC and 4810-4619 cal BC

24

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 55: Post-excavation plan of Feature 7A and 7B

are described sequentially in a clockwise manner, from the north.

FEATURE 7A - CONTEXTS An arc of postholes, which partially surrounded a line of postholes, formed this feature. Between the arc and line of postholes were several other small post and stakeholes, which may have formed part of an internal structure.

C664 (Figs 56 and 57) was the most northerly of the postholes. It was an irregular oval with steeply sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.45m long, 0.25m wide and 0.29m deep, with an east to west orientation. It contained two fills; the lower (F486) was dark brown, compact clay which contained charcoal inclusions while the upper (F663) was dark brown, friable, sandy loam

ARC OF POSTHOLES This arc incorporated postholes C404, C408, C410, C412, C414, C630, C632, C660, C664 and C719. The postholes

25

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND which also contained charcoal inclusions throughout. This posthole had also been cut through L434, a layer of brown, loose, sandy loam which contained charcoal flecking throughout. This layer was 0.97m long, 039m wide and 0.1m deep, orientated east to west and may have been the remains of the original ground surface. F663 contained a heavily burned and shattered later Mesolithic flint form that may have been both backed and distally retouched, FN 4502 (Plate 5). An undiagnostic flint flake and two pieces of undiagnostic debitage, FN 4485-87, were also recovered. A radiocarbon date of 5770±70 BP was obtained from charcoal within F663 which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 4778-4462 cal BC. This date would place the Feature 7A structure within the Late Mesolithic or very Early Neolithic period (Chapter 5). C719 (Fig 58) was oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.15m long, 0.1m wide, 0.1m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, friable, sandy, loam (F667). A large stone in the northern side of the fill may have been a packing stone.

Plate 5: Late Mesolithic retouched flint, FN 4502

Figure 59: North facing section through C430

Figure 60: North facing section through C408 Figure 56: Plan of L434 and C664. Line A-B marks the location of Figure 57

Figure 61: Northwest facing section through C410

Figure 57: West facing section through C664 and L434

Figure 62: Northwest facing section through C412

C430 (Fig 59) was oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.2m long, 0.15m wide, 0.06m

Figure 58: East facing section through C719

26

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by grey-brown, compact, gritty, stony clay (F429).

The postholes are described sequentially, from the north to the south.

C408 (Fig 60) was oval with steeply sloping sides to the east, a gentler slope to the west and a flat base. It measured 0.25m long, 0.16m wide, 0.1m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, soft, silty loam with no obvious inclusions (F407).

C672 (Fig 68) was oval with gently sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.3m long, 0.25m wide and 0.05m deep, with an east to west orientation. It was filled by dark brown, compact, gritty clay (F671) which contained many small stone inclusions (S681) throughout. These stones were, on average, 0.12m long, 0.07m wide and 0.03m thick.

C410 (Fig 61) was circular with vertical sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.15m in diameter, 0.1-0.12m deep and was filled by very dark brown, soft, silty clay (F409) which contained a large number of small stones (S1622) throughout. These stones were, on average, 0.020.04m long, 0.02m wide and 0.02m thick. C412 (Fig 62) was circular with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.18m diameter and 0.22m deep. It was filled by black-brown, soft, silty clay (F411) which contained some charcoal flecking and small stone inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones.

Figure 64: North facing section through C630

C414 (Fig 63) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.2m long, 0.15m wide, 0.1m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, gritty, friable loam (F413). Figure 65: North facing section through C632

C630 (Fig 64) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.17m long, 0.11m wide and 0.13m deep with a north to south orientation. It was filled by brownorange, gritty, sandy loam (F629) which contained small organic inclusions throughout. These inclusions may have been wood but proved to be too small and fragile to allow any meaningful insight into their origins. C632 (Fig 65) was oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.2m long, 0.15m wide and 0.09m deep, with a north to south orientation. It was filled by dark brown, gritty soil (F631) which contained small stone inclusions throughout.

Figure 66: North facing section through C404

C404 (Fig 66) was circular with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.1m diameter and 0.12m deep and was filled by dark brown, silty clay (F403) which contained some charcoal flecking throughout.

Figure 67: Northwest facing section through C660

C660 (Fig 67) was an irregular oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.4m long, 0.25m wide and between 0.05 (northeast side) and 0.1m (southwest side) deep, was orientated northeast to southwest and was filled by dark brown, compact, clay (F659) which contained small stone inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones. The difference in depth and irregular shape is either indicative of a re-cut, or of two posts having been placed side-by-side within this posthole.

Figure 63: Northwest facing section through C414

C680 (Fig 69) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.3m long, 0.2m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated north to south and had a slight widening along its northern edge that may have been caused by the

LINE OF PITS AND POSTHOLES This line incorporated features; C442, C444, C446, C448, C456, C458, C460, C547, C672, C674, C676 and C680.

27

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND removal of a post. It was filled by mottled blue-black, sticky clay (F679) which contained charcoal flecking and small stone inclusions throughout.

to southwest and was filled by black (with orange mottling), firm clay (F459). C547 (Fig 79) was oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.4m long, 0.3m wide and 0.08m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, soft, silty loam (F548) which contained some small stone inclusions throughout.

C674 (Fig 70) was circular with steep sides and a pointed base. The southern side showed signs of later disturbance and the northern side was defined by a large stone. It measured 0.2m diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by brown, gritty clay (F673). C676 (Fig 71) was circular with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.2m diameter and 0.06m deep and was filled by dark brown-black, gritty clay (F675) which contained many small stone inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones. C442 (Fig 72) was sub-oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.4m long, 0.2m wide, 0.2m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown, friable, gritty loam (F441) which contained many small stone inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones.

Figure 68: North facing section through C672

Figure 69: North facing section through C680

C446 (Fig 73) was sub-oval with gently sloping sides and rounded base. It measured 0.6m long, 0.4m wide and 0.2m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by brown, friable, gritty loam (F445). C444 (Fig 74) was oval with steeply sloping sides to the east while those to the west sloped more gently. It measured 0.2m long, 0.25m wide and 0.25m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown (with orange mottling), compact, soft clay (F443) which contained flecks of charcoal and small stone inclusions throughout. It also contained two pieces of undiagnostic flint debitage, (FN 4372-73).

Figure 70: West facing section showing C674

C448 (Fig 75) was oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.3m long, 0.25m-0.3m wide and 0.2m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown-orange, friable, gritty sandy clay (F447) which contained small stone inclusions throughout.

Figure 71: West facing section through C676

C456 (Fig 76) was oval with gently sloping sides and an irregular base. It measured 0.35m long, 0.30m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by grey-brown (with yellow mottling), compact, gritty clay (F455) which contained some small stone inclusions throughout.

Figure 72: North facing section through C442

C458 (Fig 77) was oval with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.35m long, 0.3m wide and 0.25m deep, was orientated northwest to southeast and was filled by dark brown, very gritty, sandy clay (F457) with numerous tiny stone inclusions throughout. Figure 73: South facing section through C446

C460 (Fig 78) was oval with steeply sloping sides to the east and gently sloping sides to the west. It measured 0.5m long, 0.3m wide and 0.15m deep, was orientated northeast

28

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS POST HOLES BETWEEN THE ARC AND THE LINE OF POSTHOLES To the west side of the line of postholes were a further six postholes. These were C424, C452, C640, C646, C650 and C652. The postholes are described sequentially in a clockwise manner, from south to north.

Figure 80: North facing section through C452

C452 (Fig 80) was circular with steep sides and a tapered rounded base. It measured 0.1m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by brown, gritty, sandy clay (F451).

Figure 81: Northeast facing section through C640

Figure 74: North facing section through C444

Figure 82: Northwest facing section through C424 Figure 75: North facing section through C448

Figure 76: North facing section through C456

Figure 83: North facing section through C652

Figure 77: North facing section through C458

Figure 84: North facing section through C646

Figure 78: West facing section through C460

Figure 85: North facing section through C650

C640 (Fig 81) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.3m long, 0.2m wide and 0.2m deep, was orientated northwest to southeast and had a slight widening on its southwest edge that may have been caused by the removal of a post. It was filled by mottled grey-

Figure 79: North facing section through C547

29

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND brown, gritty loam (F639) which contained numerous small pebble inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones.

probable position for the entrance would have been along the southern side of the structure, between C414 and C460. Internally, the central line of postholes survived to a much greater degree. The gap between postholes C442 and C676 can be more positively attributed as an intentional gap in an internal wall, a doorway. This ‘doorway’ leads into the area defined by the small internal arc of postholes suggesting that this was a small room within the structure.

C424 (Fig 82) was oval with steep sides and a tapered rounded base. It measured 0.12m long, 0.1m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated northeast to southwest and was filled by dark brown-grey, compact clay (F423) which contained flecks of charcoal throughout.

C664 contained: Late Mesolithic flint debitage, FN 4502; an undiagnostic flint flake and two pieces of undiagnostic debitage, FN 4485-87. C444 also contained some undiagnostic debitage, FN 4372-73. The Late Mesolithic date alluded to by the flint was confirmed by a radiocarbon date obtained from C664, 5770±70 BP. This gave a date range, when calibrated at 2 sigma, of 4778 to 4462 cal BC.

C652 (Fig 83) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.12m long, 0.1m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated north to south and was filled by greybrown, gritty clay (F651) which contained some small stone inclusions throughout. C646 (Fig 84) was circular with gently sloping sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.1m diameter and 0.7m deep and was filled by grey-brown, compact, clay (F645) which contained some small stone inclusions throughout.

FEATURE 7B - CONTEXTS This feature was formed by two linear arrangements of postholes and pits; one orientated west-northwest to eastsoutheast, the other north-northeast to south-southwest. A single large pit, which lay at a distance of 3.5m north of both arrangements, was also excavated.

C650 (Fig 85) was circular with steep sides and a tapered rounded base. It measured 0.15m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by grey-brown, compact clay (F649) which contained some small stones inclusions throughout.

WEST-NORTHWEST/EAST-SOUTHEAST PIT AND POSTHOLE LINE This line incorporated pits C684, C688, C686, C762 and C776 and postholes C760, C766, C772 and C774. They are described sequentially from the west-northwest.

FEATURE 7A – SUMMARY Feature 7A was 7m long and 6m wide, with a northwest to southeast orientation. It was defined by an arc of postholes which were set, on average, 0.5m apart. In the centre of this arc, and dividing the enclosed area, was a northeast to southwest orientated line of closely-set postholes. A smaller arc of closely-set postholes also lay within the larger arc, between it and the central line of postholes. The structure seemed to have been built of single posts, although C660 and C664 may have been a pairing. The most substantial postholes were those within the central line, while the outer arc and internal arc were composed of smaller postholes. This suggests that the central line supported larger posts while the outer arcs supported posts of a much smaller diameter. It is, therefore, likely that the central line was the main load-bearing component of the structure while the outer arcs were not required to support as much weight. The structure itself was likely to have been an oval hut with outer walls, which curved up to, and were supported by, the central line of postholes. The walls could have been constructed of wattle and daub, straw, branches, earth sods or any combination of these.

C688 (Fig 86) was oval and measured 0.4m long, 0.4m wide and 0.1m deep with a west-northwest to eastsoutheast orientation. It was shallow to the northwest and gradually deepened to the southeast. This angle would indicate that any post placed within this feature would have slanted to the northwest. It was filled by dark brown, friable, silty clay (F687) which contained charcoal and large stone inclusions. The large stones were found around the sides of the cut and were likely to have been packing stones. C684 (Fig 87) was oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.55m long, 0.5m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated north to south and was filled by dark brown mottled orange clay (F683) which contained some small stone inclusions throughout. C686 (Fig 88) was oval with gently sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 1m long, 0.5m wide and 0.15m deep, was orientated west-northwest to east-southeast and was filled by dark brown (mottled with orange), gritty, sandy clay (F685) which contained charcoal flecking and some small stone inclusions throughout.

The oval arc had a number of discernible gaps in it. It seems, however, that this was an artefact of truncation of the site rather than a component of the original structure. The surviving postholes, which formed the arc, were very shallow. It seems likely that the later agricultural scarping of the area removed the remains of other postholes, which were shallower than those that survived. It is likely that the entrance lay within one of the gaps in this arc. The vast majority of excavated prehistoric structures had entrances facing south to southeast as this would have been the side to receive the most sun. It is likely that this structure followed the same pattern and, therefore, the most

C760 (Fig 89) was oval with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.15m long, 0.1m wide and 0.1m deep, was orientated northwest to southeast and was filled by dark brown friable loam (F759). C762 (Fig 90) was oval with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.95m long, 0.6m wide and 0.15m deep, was orientated northwest to southeast and was filled by dark 30

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS brown compact loam (F761) which contained some burnt flint and a small number of medium to large stones. The stones were found around the sides of the cut and were likely to have been packing stones. C776 (Fig 91) was oval and measured 0.25m long, 0.15m wide and 0.1m deep with an east to west orientation. It was shallow to the east and gradually deepened to the west. This angle would indicate that any post placed within this feature would have slanted to the east. It was filled by dark brown, friable loam (F775) which contained a few small stone inclusions throughout. The fill also contained the butt of a large blade, FN 4392, that was diagnostically Late Mesolithic.

Figure 88: South facing section through C686

Figure 89: Northwest facing section through C760

C772 (Fig 92) was circular with gently sloping sides up to a depth of 0.05m; at this point the cut stepped in and formed a steep sided tapered point. It measured 0.15m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by dark brown (with yellow mottling), compact clay (F771) which contained some charcoal flecking throughout.

Figure 90: East facing section of C762

C774 (Fig 93) was oval with steep sides and a tapered base. It measured 0.15m long, 0.06m wide and 0.07m deep, was orientated north to south and was filled by black, loose, silty clay (F773) which contained some charcoal flecking and two large stones (S770). The stones were found around the sides of the cut and were likely to have been packing stones.

Figure 91: North facing section through C776

C766 (Fig 94) was oval with steep sides, which sloped upwards from west to east. This angle would indicate that any post placed within this feature would have slanted to the east. It measured 0.2m long, 0.15m wide and 0.15m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, gritty, friable, sandy clay (F765) which contained charcoal flecking and a large quantity of small stones. The stones were found around the sides of the cut and were likely to have been packing stones.

Figure 92: South facing section through C772

Figure 86: East facing section through C688 Figure 93: South facing section through C774

Figure 87: East facing section through C684 Figure 94: South facing section through C766

31

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND SOUTH-SOUTHWEST TO NORTH-NORTHEAST ALIGNMENT OF PITS AND POSTHOLES This line incorporated pits C696, C698 and C1082 and postholes C690, C692 and C1083. They are described sequentially from the south-southwest. C1082 (Fig 95) was circular with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.45m in diameter and 0.15m deep and was filled by mottled dark brown and orange, compact, sticky clay (F1081) which contained a large quantity of charcoal flecking throughout. A very weathered multiplatformed core, FN 3027, most likely of Late Mesolithic date, was recovered from the fill.

Figure 97: South facing section through C692

C696 (Fig 96) was circular with steep sides and an irregular base. It measured 0.3m diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by dark brown (with orange mottling), compact, silty clay (F695) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and some un-worked flint fragments throughout.

Figure 98: South facing section through C690

C692 (Fig 97) was circular with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.15m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by brown, silty clay (F691). C690 (Fig 98) was circular and measured 0.15m in diameter and 0.1m deep. The east side was vertical and the west side sloped upwards from east to west. This angle would indicate that any post placed within this feature would have slanted to the west. It was filled by dark brown, silty clay (F689).

Figure 99: North facing section through C698

C698 (Fig 99) was circular with steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.3m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by brown-grey, gritty clay (F697). C1083 (Fig 100) was circular with steep sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.15m in diameter and 0.1m deep and was filled by brown-grey clay (F1084) which contained numerous small stone inclusions throughout. The stones were in the matrix of the fill and could not be interpreted as packing stones.

Figure 100: North facing section through C1083

LARGE PIT AND POSTHOLE C756 (Fig 101) was a large pit located 3.5m north of the two pit and posthole alignments. An earlier posthole (C1129) was noted within the pit.

Figure 95: South facing section through C1082

Figure 101: North to south profile across C756 and C1129

C1129 was a circular posthole with vertical sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.1m in diameter and 0.05m deep and was filled by light brown, gritty clay (F755). It lay at the bottom of the larger pit, indicating severe truncation by C756.

Figure 96: North facing section through C696

32

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS C756 (Figs 101 and 102) was an oval pit with gradually sloping sides to the south and east and steeply sloping sides to the north and west, with a flat base. It measured 1m long, 0.65m wide and 0.2m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, friable, silty loam (F755) which contained charcoal flecks and a large quantity of stone inclusions (S753). These stones were, on average, 0.04m0.08m long, 0.02-0.07m wide and 0.04m thick. They were principally found around the sides of the posthole and were likely to have been packing stones. It is probable that this large pit was dug to support a larger post than that which had previously been held by C1129.

artefact assemblage, it is likely that they were in use at the same time. Feature 7A appears to have been a small hut, which was sub-divided across its shortest axis and contained a small room. Feature 7B was more solidly built and appeared to form an L-shaped wall, focused around a large post, which lay to the north. The function of this structure was unclear. The walls may have supported a roof that spanned the gap between the walls and the large post, or the whole structure may have been open to the elements. Comparative evidence for the Late Mesolithic in the British Isles is slight. The vast majority of Late Mesolithic material uncovered has been in the form of isolated flint scatters, for example the major concentrations found in and around Ballyhoe Lough (Woodman 1998) or shell middens, such as Westward Ho!, Devon (5145-4505 BC, Berridge & Roberts 1986) and Fornaught Strand (Green, Moore & Zvelebil 1987). Evidence for occupation comes from just a few sites and, of these, few have produced evidence for any structure associated with the occupation.

FEATURE 7B – SUMMARY Feature 7B was 6m long and 4m wide and was orientated west-northwest to east-southeast. It was defined by a 6m long arrangement of pits and postholes, which were orientated west-northwest to east-southeast, a 2.5m long arrangement of pits and postholes which began at the southeast corner of this line and ran perpendicular to it and a pit/posthole which lay 4m north of these alignments. It is likely that the two alignments supported an L-shaped wall while the large isolated pit and posthole to the north held a large post or posts. The walls may have supported a roof, which spanned the 4m gap between the walls and the large post. Alternatively, the whole structure may have been open to the elements. Postholes C688, C690, C766 and C776 were angled towards the lines of pits and postholes and may have acted as bracing posts for the walls. Pits C696, C760 and C1082 lay just inside the two alignments and would appear to have had some other function than supporting the wall, possibly some form of internal partition.

After investigation, a number of the flint scatters proved to be associated with industrial activity, with the largest accumulations comprised principally of flint knapping waste and unfinished tools. Sites such as Coney Island (Addyman 1965), Monvoy (Green, Moore & Zvelebil 1987), Bay Farm 1 and 3 (Woodman 1988, Woodman & Johnson 1996) and Ferriter’s Cove (5527-3398BC, Woodman, Anderson & Finlay 1999) all produced large quantities of flint knapping waste. At Bay Farm and Ferriter’s Cove a small number of pits and postholes were recorded. Although some lines and groups of postholes could be identified, no specific hut pattern could be deciphered. Woodman believes that, at Ferriter’s Cove in particular, there were, “clear indications that much of the activity took place in the open air” (Woodman, Anderson & Finlay 1999, 130). The only sites where industrial activity has been associated with distinct long term settlement evidence was the site at Ballydown (Crothers, 1996) where a possible hut was found in association with a chipping floor, a possible hearth and several pits. However, this is an isolated example and the general trend seems to be for settlement and industrial activities to be undertaken at separate locations. This dichotomy suggests a distinct separation in use of space between settlement and industry within the Mesolithic community. At Toome there was minor evidence for industrial activity taking place, in the form of a small number of pieces of debitage. However, this was not in a great enough quantity to indicate that flint tool manufacture was the prime activity undertaken on the site.

Figure 102: West facing section through C756

C760 and C1082 contained flint debitage, a flint core, FN 3027, and much more charcoal than the other pits and postholes which formed this feature. This indicates that these pits were most likely open and in use, probably as hearths, during the period when the other pits and postholes held posts. The flint recovered from C1082 was of Late Mesolithic date, as was the butt of a large blade, FN 4392, found in C775. These two pieces of flint proved to be the only means of dating this feature as none of the samples taken from the pits and postholes proved viable for C14 dating.

Occupation layers (areas of disturbance which have been attributed to the Late Mesolithic by artefact or radiocarbon dating) have been excavated at Chaldown Down, Dorset (Webster 2005, Wymer 1977), Corbally More (Green, Moore & Zvelebil 1987), Poldowrian, Cornwall (46104390 BC, Smith and Harris 1982) and Windmill Farm, Cornwall (4360-4060 BC, Smith 1984). At Newferry (Woodman 1978) a series of occupation levels were found stratified within layers of quaternary deposits, which

DISCUSSION The two structures which formed Feature 7 dated to the Late Mesolithic, as indicated by a single radiocarbon date from Feature 7A, 4778 to 4462 cal BC. Although no radiocarbon date was obtained from Feature 7B, as it respected the position of Feature 7A and had a similar 33

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND provided dates ranging from 6365-6080 BC (the lowest layer) to 3555-3375 BC (the uppermost layer). A similar situation was found at Castle Carra (Hurl & McSparron in prep), where three distinct occupation phases were noted (the three phases were dated to 5310-5040 BC, 5210-4720 BC and 4330-4040 BC). The radiocarbon dates from Castle Carra and Newferry indicate that these two sites had intermittent occupation over a prolonged period. Although no specific structural remains were uncovered at any of these sites, a stony layer found at Castle Carra was interpreted as a collapsed wall (Hurl & McSparron in prep). It is possible, however, that the stony layer was in fact a floor.

Ditton Brook Valley had three small encampments that were a few square metres across and appeared to have been in natural hollows, possibly tree root hollows caused by blow-down. None of these sites had any further structural evidence and they may have only been occupied for short periods. Although some of the sites previously discussed contained hearths, pits and stake/postholes, it was not possible to ascertain if these were part of a permanent dwelling or merely evidence for temporary shelters, wind breaks or some form of structure required for flint knapping, hide working or some other form of craft or industry. The only sites where distinct and identifiable Late Mesolithic structures have been identified were Eglinton (Hut 1:45204350 BC, Hut 2:4320-4050 BC, Dunlop, Gilmore and O’Regan 2008), Downtown, Wiltshire (Wymer 1991, 43), Bowman’s Farm, Hampshire (5002-4548 BC, Green 1996, Green and Wenban-Smith 2008), Simonstown (Woodman, Anderson & Finlay 1999, 128), Wawcott, Berkshire (Wawcott 1:4360-3780 BC, Wawcott 3:5400-4700 BC, Froom 1972, Froom 1976), Wakeford’s Copse, Hampshire (Bradley & Lewis 1974) and Broom Hill, Hampshire (Wymer 1991, 43).

Stone floors and layers have also been found at Flynn, Knockavellish Strand (Green, Moore & Zvelebil 1988), Newferry 3 (Woodman 1977) and Golden Ball Hill, Wiltshire (Dennis & Hamilton 1997). At Flynn and Newferry the stones were angular and formed a consolidated layer which appeared to have been used to create a drier platform between the peat and soft sands which lay below the occupational area above. At Golden Ball Hill, the stony floors were constructed from smooth flint pebbles and were associated with postholes and hearths. The largest of the floors was 15m x 10m. The better laid and more defined areas of stone, combined with the presence of hearths and postholes, indicated that the site at Golden Ball Hill was more likely to have been a prolonged settlement site, whereas Flynn and Newferry may have had intermittent occupation.

Of these sites the least convincing huts were those identified at Wakeford’s Copse (4800-4250 BC, Bradley and Lewis 1974) and Wawcott (Froom 1972, Froom 1976). Wakeford’s Copse had several large pits (1.5-3m in diameter) which were surrounded by stakeholes. These were interpreted as small temporary shelters by the excavators. However, this interpretation seems unlikely as there is no logical reason to have a large pit as part of the shelter and it seems more likely that they were some form of storage pit, covered or enclosed by a stake defined fence. Wawcott (Froom 1972, Froom 1976) also had had a large number of pits, most of which were identified as storage pits, although two of the larger pits were interpreted as the bases of shelters. The pits identified as shelters were, on average, 4m long, 2m wide and 0.3m deep. However, as at Wakeford’s Copse, there would have been no obvious reason for constructing a hut over the pit and in the absence of any stake or postholes surrounding the pit it is hard to see evidence for the pit having been sheltered in any way.

The use of stone as part of a platform has also been noticed in close proximity to, and indeed, within several lakes. On the shore of Inch Island in Lough Gara (4230-3970 BC, Fredengren 2002) piling, timber piles and brushwood stretching over a 40m area of the lakeshore were found in association with shattered stones. Peat bogs beside Valencia Island (5720-5300 BC, Mitchell 1989) and Derragh Lough (Fredengren 2006) had platforms which were constructed from timber and stone while a site at Mitchellstown east (around 4000 BC, Fredengren 2002, 134) had a platform built out of brushwood. Three small artificial islands made of wood and stone, found at Moynagh Lough (4313-3980 BC, Bradley 2000), provide the only clear evidence of Late Mesolithic open water crannogs to date. Two of these crannogs were subrectangular platforms arranged roughly at right angles to one another and separated, at their nearest point, by a distance of just over 2m. Platform 1 was 8.3m long and 5.5m wide while platform 2 was 8m long and 7m wide. A third platform, 17m west of the other two, was 4m long and 3m wide. At Derragh Lough (Fredengren 2006, 319) and Inch Island in Lough Gara (Fredengren 2002, 121) lines of boulders and shattered stones were found leading into the water. These may have been the remnants of manmade jetties or causeways. Feature 1 would also appear to have been such a jetty or causeway (see Section 4.1).

At Eglinton (Dunlop, Gilmore and O’Regan 2008), two rounded huts were found side by side at the southern end of a feature interpreted as a fence. Both huts were defined by narrow stakeholes. Hut 1 was circular and 3m in diameter, while Hut 2 was oval, 2.5m long and 2m wide. Both were divided across their narrow axis by a further line of stakeholes. The huts appear to have been constructed from stakes or thin posts which were formed into a curving frame enclosing the internal area. Stakeholes found a short distance to the east and west of the huts, have been interpreted as having held stakes which, in turn, may have been connected to the hut by some form of rope, thus providing extra tensile support, akin to tent pegs. Similar structures were found at Downtown where two small stakehole defined huts, 1.5m in diameter, had outlying stakeholes set into the ground, angled away from the huts.

Hearths have been found at Kilsharvan 10 (5060-4080 cal BC, Russell 2003), Corbally More (Green, Moore & Zvelebil 1987) and Ditton Brook Valley, Lancashire (5000-4000 BC, Liverpool Museums online). The site at 34

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS These were also interpreted as something akin to tent pegs (Wymer 1991, 43).

CONCLUSION Feature 7B was a markedly different structure from Feature 7A. Structure 7A was roughly circular and enclosed a space which had a sub-division and internal features while structure 7B was formed from two lines of pits and postholes which lay at a distance of 3.5m from a large pit. The construction technique used was also different, with 7B utilising larger postholes and pits to support its structure rather than the smaller postholes used in 7A. Nevertheless, it is still likely that they were contemporary Late Mesolithic features, simply with very different functions. The radiocarbon dates obtained from Feature 7 overlap those of the hearth and associated structures which formed Feature 6 (which lay some 40m west) and, as previously discussed, it is possible that these two features were contemporary and that Feature 6 was the cooking area for Feature 7’s habitation site.

Bowman’s Farm (Green 1996, Green and Wenban-Smith 2008) also had rounded huts, although these were not defined by stakeholes but by a narrow ring ditch or slot. Hut 1 at Bowman’s farm was 4m long and 3.5m wide while Hut 2 was 5m long and 4m wide and was more rectangular than the others. Hut 3 was 5m in diameter and Hut 4 was 4.5m in diameter. It was suggested that the circular huts could have been something akin to a North American tepee, while the more oval or sub-rectangular huts were of a different structural design. All of the huts were probably built from a light framework, which need not have been bedded into the ground but simply rested upon it with the structure weighed down with stones, hence the lack of post or stakeholes. Green concluded that the artefact assemblages and charred content of the ring ditches were so similar that it is improbable they were from different periods. The slightly different ground plans of these structures therefore, and thus their form, could indicate that they served different functions (Green 1996, 121). A similar, but as yet unpublished, hut was found at Simonstown (Woodman, Anderson & Finlay 1999, 128). This hut was 5-6m in diameter and had a substantial foundation trench.

4.8 FEATURE 8 PROBABLE LATE MESOLITHIC PITS INTRODUCTION Feature 8 (Fig 103) was uncovered in Area Middle, within grid D21, 40m south of Feature 14, between 16 and 17m OD. The ground in this area sloped east to west and the subsoil within the grid was orange-brown clay (F2).

A final example of a Late Mesolithic hut was that found at Broom hill, Romsey (latest date: 5720-5260 BC, Wymer 1991). It was roughly 5m in diameter and was formed by a ring of post and stakeholes which surrounded a central post and a hearth.

DESCRIPTION This feature was formed from two cuts, C156 and C169. C156 (Fig 104) was an irregular oval with gently sloping sides and a convex base which was deepest to the west. It measured 2.58m long, 1.16m wide and 0.4m deep, with a north-northwest to south-southeast orientation. It was filled by F157, F160 and F168. The basal fill was black, sandy clay (F168) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and a diagnostically Late Mesolithic broken flint blade, FN 4528 (Pl 6). It had a maximum depth of 0.15m. Above this was grey, silty sand (F157) which contained a small quantity of charcoal and had a maximum depth of 0.17m. The upper fill was black, sandy clay (F160) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and had a maximum depth of 0.14m.

Feature 7A (the hut) at Toome was slightly larger than those previously discussed. The use of the central line of posts, rather than a central posthole, as seen at Broom Hill, may have allowed for this increase in size and may be indicative of an improvement in structural technology. The use of a sub-division in the hut at Toome has parallels in Early Neolithic houses, as at Tankardstown, Co Limerick (Gowen & Tarbett, 1988), Ballyglass, Co Mayo (O’Nuallain, 1972), Newtown, Co Meath (Gowen & Halpin, 1992), Drummenny Lower, Co Donegal (Dunne, 2003) and Ballynagilly, Co Tyrone (Apsimon, 1969). All contained a central line of posts that indicated a subdivision of the houses.

C169 (Fig 104) was oval in plan with steep sides and a stepped rounded base. It was located immediately north of C156, measured 0.88m long, 0.6m wide and 0.38m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by black sandy clay (F170) which contained some charcoal inclusions and several pieces of undiagnostic flint debitage, FN 4537-4538, and a piece of petrified wood.

The secondary structure, Feature 7B, has no later Mesolithic parallel, though the L-shape of the wall does bear a similarity in design to that utilised in Early Neolithic rectangular houses (for further information and discussion on Neolithic houses in Ireland see Grogan 1996). However, the orientation of the slots around a large central post and the absence of any further pits or postholes would indicate that this may not have been a house.

DISCUSSION These two cuts appeared to be a hearth (C156) and a large posthole or pit (C169). If C169 was a posthole it would have held a post that may have either marked the position of the hearth, or supported some overhanging structure. As a pit, it was comparable in size and shape to pits uncovered during excavations in the Eastern Area of Mount Sandel (Woodman 1985). Some of these were interpreted as storage pits as they were found to contain hazelnut shells. Although no organic remains were recovered from C169, it is still possible that it and C156 were utilised as storage

The similarity of these Late Mesolithic structures to those of the Early Neolithic is interesting and alludes to a previously unrecognised continuity of technology from the Late Mesolithic into this later period.

35

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND pits and were either empty when abandoned or all organic material had since decayed away leaving no trace.

Figure 103: Post excavation plan of Area Middle, showing Feature 8 within its grid and its topographical position in relation to the other nearby Features

Figure 104: Post-excavation plan of Feature 8

36

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS  

five flakes, FN 5914-5918 and a core fragment, FN 5919

DISCUSSION The large quantity of debitage from Feature 9 and the presence of the core would suggest that it was a flint tool manufacturing site. It is also probable that the hammer stone (FN 5778) recovered from the topsoil 0.5m southeast of this feature is directly related to it. The burning identified in the lowest layer would suggest that flint knapping had been going on around a small fire and debitage had fallen into it while it was lit. The upper layers showed no sign of burning and are evidence for one or more flint knapping sessions occurring on this spot after the fire had been extinguished.

Plate 6: flint blade, FN/D21/168/4528

CONCLUSION The flint blade, FN/D21/168/4528 (Pl 6), recovered from the hearth dates to the Late Mesolithic. It is therefore possible that this feature was contemporary to the Late Mesolithic structures found at the northern end of the site. As this feature was isolated, no radiocarbon date was obtained.

CONCLUSION This feature was a small flint knapping site which was probably in use for a very brief period. Over the course of its use a single fire had been lit. The lithics recovered would suggest that this feature dated to the Late Neolithic or possibly the Early Bronze Age (Chapter 5).

4.9 FEATURE 9 PROBABLE LATE NEOLITHIC/EARLY BRONZE AGE FLINT KNAPPING SITE INTRODUCTION Feature 9 (Fig 105) was uncovered in Area South, at the boundary of grids F28 and G28, between 14 and 15m OD. The ground in this area sloped east to west and the subsoil within the grid was orange-brown clay (F2). DESCRIPTION This feature (Figs 105 and 106) was formed from four shallow spreads, F1601-1604, which lay in a natural depression. The area covered by these spreads was 5m long by 3.25m wide and a maximum of 0.3m deep. The basal layer was pale grey silty sand (F1604) which contained large quantities of charcoal throughout. Numerous fragments of burnt debitage and the burnt distal end of a blade, FN 5722, were also recovered. It had a maximum thickness of 0.08m. Overlying this was a layer of pale grey silty sand (F1602) which had a maximum thickness of 0.01m and contained:  a large quantity of debitage  nine flakes, FN 6153-6162  and three blades, FN 5995, 6163-6164

Figure 105: Area South showing Feature 9 within its grid

Figure 106: North facing section through Feature 9

It was very similar to F1604 except for the fact that it contained no charcoal and the lithics within its matrix were not burnt. Above this was a layer of dark yellow sand (F1601) which contained:  a small quantity of debitage  a flake, FN 5905  and two blades, FN 5906-5907 It had a maximum thickness of 0.1m. The final layer was dark brown sand (F1603) which had a maximum thickness of 0.1m and contained:  a large quantity of debitage

4.10 FEATURE 10 BRONZE AGE BURNT MOUNDS (1686-1622 CAL BC) INTRODUCTION Feature 10 (Fig 107) was uncovered at the southernmost tip of Area South in Grids A34, A35 and B34. The ground in these grids sloped gently upwards to the northeast. The feature lay between 15.5 and 16m OD. The subsoil within the grid was orange sandy clay (F2), and was close to the

37

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND clay/sand interface that probably represented where the drumlin met the wetlands.

manufacture and, having been discovered during this phase of activity, it was quickly buried again.

DESCRIPTION The feature consisted of six pits; C89, C1592, C1620, C1642, C1647 and C1650 and two spreads, L1589 and L1617. The fills of the six pits comprised charcoal-rich clays and burnt stones. L1617 was a layer of dark blue compact clay which had in-filled a natural hollow. This layer was water-borne and as such was nonarchaeological. It is only included here as a Late Mesolithic or possibly Neolithic flint blade, FN 5492, (Pl 7) and two burnt blades, FN 5111-5112, were found within its matrix. L1589 was yellow-grey silty sand and was found in patches across the area. This layer was also naturally deposited, probably wind-blown and as with L1617 is only included here as it contained worked lithics: a butt- and distally-trimmed later Mesolithic blade, FN 5546.

C1647 (Fig 112) was sub-circular with steep sides to the east which gradually shallowed to a gentle slope to the west with a rounded base. It measured 2.2m long, 1.6m wide and 0.46m deep with an east to west orientation and was located 2m northeast of C1620. It was filled by F101, F1585, F1646, F1645, F1648, F1652 and F1657. The basal fill was orange, sandy clay (F1585) which had a maximum thickness of 0.06m. The upper portion of the fill was solid, which suggested that it had been subject to heating and had partially baked. Immediately above this was a 0.01m thick layer of dark grey, ashy clay (F1646). The next layer was dark blue, sandy clay (F1645) which contained a large quantity of charcoal and burnt stones and some undiagnostic fragments of burnt flint. It had a maximum thickness of 0.14m. Within F1645 were sporadic lenses of dark brown and mottled pink sandy clay which contained:  a heavily weathered polished stone axe, FN 5718 (Pl 10)  a convex end scraper, FN 550  a retouched blade, FN 5550  and two undiagnostic flakes and pieces of debitage, FN 5551-5553

CONTEXTS C89 (Fig 108) was an irregular oval with steep sides and a flattish base. It measured 1.8m long, 0.3m wide and 0.2m deep and was orientated northwest to southeast. It was filled by black loose friable organic clay (F90) which contained fragments of heavily decayed wood. The fill also contained two blades, FN 5500 and FN 5575. C1592 (Fig 109) was an irregular oval in plan with shallow sides and a flattish base. The pit was 5.16m long, 1.5m wide and 0.3m-0.4m deep and was orientated north to south. It was filled by dark brown clay (F1594) which contained medium to large stone inclusions. Some of the stones were burnt.

Above this was grey-brown, ashy, sandy clay (F101) which had a maximum thickness of 0.26m. These three layers were probably the remnants of the fire that had affected F1585. The upper fill was dark brown loose sandy clay (F1648) which contained some charcoal flecks, a large number of yellow sand lenses and two undiagnostic flint chunks, FN 6138-39. It had a maximum depth of 0.46m. The presence of the sandy lenses suggests that this fill was a natural deposition, which occurred once the pit had been abandoned.

C1620 (Fig 110, Plate 8) was sub-circular with steep sides and a flattish base. It measured 1.74m long, 1.52m wide and 0.35m deep, was orientated north to south and was located 10m east-southeast of C1592. It was filled by F1621, black, sandy clay which contained large quantities of charcoal (flecks and fragments) and burnt cracked stones. The stones formed almost 50% of the matrix of the fill and measured, on average, 0.8m x 0.05m x 0.04m. C1642 (Fig 111) was oval with steep sides and an irregular base. It measured 2.45m long, 1.32m wide and 0.2m deep and was located immediately north of C1620. The basal fill, F91, was grey clay which contained some charcoal flecking throughout and had a maximum thickness of 0.03m. The upper fill, F1644, was black clay, which contained large quantities of charcoal and burnt, cracked stones throughout, and had a maximum depth of 0.18m. F1644 also contained a flint artefact identified in the specialist report as a Late Neolithic javelin head, FN 5579 (Pl 9). It was in a very fresh condition suggesting that it was deliberately deposited. However, a radiocarbon date of 3300±40 BP was obtained from charcoal within F1644 which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 1686-1496 cal BC. This would place the feature within the middle of the Bronze Age and not the Late Neolithic. As the javelin head was in a fresh condition it must be assumed that it had originally been buried shortly after

Plate 7: Flint blade, A35/1617/5492

Plate 8: C1620, post-excavation, looking south

38

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 107: Post-excavation plan of Area South, showing Feature 10 within its grid and its topographical position in relation to the other nearby Features

39

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND C1650 (Fig 113) was oval with steep sides to the north, moderate slopes to the east, west and south and a flattish base. It was located 5m southeast of C1620 and measured 2.66m long, 1.17m wide and 0.42m deep, with a north to south orientation. It was filled by F88 and F1649. The basal fill was grey clay (F1649) which contained charcoal and burnt cracked stones and had a maximum thickness of 0.3m. The upper fill was black sandy clay (F88) which contained large quantities of charcoal flecks and fragments and burnt cracked stones throughout.

Figure 108: Southwest facing section through C89

A radiocarbon date of 3430±50 BP was obtained from charcoal within F88 which, when calibrated at 2 sigma, produced a date range of 1883-1622 cal BC. This would place the feature within the Early-Middle Bronze Age. Figure 109: West facing section through C1592

Figure 110: Southwest facing section through C1620

Figure 111: Southwest facing section through C1642

Plate 9: Late Neolithic javelin head, FN/A34/1644/5579

Figure 112: South facing section through C1647

Figure 113: East facing section through C1650

DISCUSSION Feature 10 was an area of approximately 15m2, which contained a group of six pits. The stony material recovered from these pits is typical of deposits caused by a burnt mound. Burnt mounds are generally situated close to water, either a stream or marshy ground (Waddell 2000; Ó Drisceoil 1991) and are typified by the presence of a large spread of charcoal, cracked and burnt stone, lying over a trough(s). The troughs vary in size and are occasionally wood-lined.

Plate 10: Heavily weathered polished stone axe, A34/1652/5718

40

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS Recent research has shown that the majority of burnt mounds date to the Bronze Age and specifically to the period from 1800 to 800 BC (Waddell 2000, 177). Research at Derryville Bog, Co Tipperary (Cross May et al 2005a, 215), has shown a distinct preference for circular and sub-circular troughs during the Early Bronze Age, while square and sub-rectangular troughs were more common during the Middle Bronze Age. Rectangular troughs proved to be most popular during the Late Bronze Age. The examples found at Toome were sub-circular and are, therefore, typologically Early Bronze Age. This was confirmed by the radiocarbon dates of 1883-1622 cal BC from C1650, and 1686-1496 cal BC from C1642 which indicate that the feature was in use during the period 16861622 cal BC. Although many excavated troughs are found lined with wood or stone it is common to find troughs without any lining.

actual function of burnt mounds. The fact that bone remains are infrequently recovered from burnt mounds (see Ó Drisceoil 1988; 1991; Cross May et al. 2005a, 220; Cross May et al 2005b, 287-8, 301-2, 305-7) and their troughs may be partially explained by elevated soil acidity. Others have theorized that there was a strong ritual element involved in the firing of burnt mounds, which involved the control and careful disposal of food remains, possibly into surrounding pits. Other functional explanations that have been put forward include their use as saunas, sweathouses or for bathing (Barfield and Hodder 1987), dying textiles or curing hides (Waddell 2000, 177) and even making beer (Moore and Quinn, 2007, 8-11). The most frequently cited references to the use of burnt mound troughs for bathing are from Foras Feasa ar Éirinn by Geoffrey Keating (Dinneen 1908, 326–9) and The romance of Mis and Dubh Ruis (Ó Cuív 1954. See also Ó Drisceoil 1990; Ó Néill 2003-4 and Newman 2002). The tale, originally transcribed in 1769 but likely to be of much greater antiquity, tells of the mission of the harpist, Dubh Ruis, to find Mis, the daughter of a king, and return her to sanity. After tempting her from her hiding place with his music they engage in what can only be described as copious quantities of sexual intercourse. Following from this, Mis catches a deer which Dubh Ruis kills, skins and cooks in a water-filled pit with hot stones. After feeding, he places her in the pit of warm water and washes her with deer fat, eventually returning her to sanity.

The function of burnt mounds has been the subject of much debate but it is generally thought that they were used to heat water. This would have been achieved by filling the trough with water, heating rocks on a fire and depositing them within the trough. Experimentation (Buckley 1990) has shown that, for example, sandstone can withstand up to five heatings and dowsings before breaking down into non-reusable fragments. Similarly, limestone was shown to withstand six such actions, with harder stone types requiring significantly more before breaking down. Basalt can withstand up to 20 heatings and dowsings before becoming unusable, while vesiculated basalt withstood 25 actions without breaking down sufficiently to be discarded. At this point experimentation was discontinued as no visible upper limit could be foreseen. The stones from Feature 10 appeared to be basalt and as they were cracked it would suggest that they had been subject to a large number of firings. The cracked rocks associated with burnt mounds built up over the working life of the feature. Once the rocks became too small they were left to the side and new rocks were used.

The tale from Keating’s Foras Feasa ar Éirinn attempts to explain the presence of these sites in terms of the Fianna, a semi-mythological band of warriors, generally believed to have existed during the Iron Age period. The scene he paints is of a roving band forced to live off the fruits of their hunting from Bealtan until Samhain (1 May to 31 October). While the Fianna spent their mornings hunting, their attendants prepared two pits. One appears to have been a fire pit where some of the meat was roasted, while a, second, larger pit is described as being filled with water and heated by fired stones. It was in this latter pit that the remainder of the meat was placed, bound in straw rope. Keating adds that before dining:

Firing blackens the stones and their immersion in water cracks and splits them (Waddell 2000, 175). Stones displaying the effects of both activities were noted during the excavation. The location of Feature 10 was well considered as it would have been very close to a source(s) of water. As mentioned previously, Feature 10 was sited on the lower slopes of the drumlin. During the excavation it was noted how quickly water inundated this feature with or without rainfall. In antiquity there would have been water in close proximity around the foot of the drumlin to use in the cooking process. The location of Feature 10 would have allowed easy access to the water source while giving a relatively firm and dry working area.

“each of them stripped off, and tied his shirt around his waist, and they ranged themselves round the second pit we have mentioned above, bathing their hair and washing their limbs, and removing their sweat, and then exercising their joints and muscles, thus ridding themselves of their fatigue” (Dinneen 1908, 329). However, Brindley et al (1989/90, 56) argue that as the vast majority of dated burnt mounds have returned dates in the Bronze Age, they cannot be associated with the much later references in the documentary sources. Whatever the truth behind such early literary references and speculations, it is obvious that burnt mounds served some form of specific, if somewhat intermittent, function within Bronze Age culture and society (Waddell 2000; Doody 1993, 96).

Although no bones were recovered in the course of the excavation other evidence seemed to indicate that cooking may have been the primary function of the feature. Experimentation by O’Kelly at Ballyvourney, Co Cork (O’Kelly 1954) showed that heated stones could bring a trough-full of water to boiling point in 30–35 minutes and provide well-cooked, palatable food. However, this experimentation does not prove that cooking was the 41

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND The distribution of burnt mounds has traditionally been seen to be greatest in the southwest of Ireland, with their incidence falling off towards Ulster. Ten sites are recorded in the NIEA Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) for Antrim and Derry (Figure 124); Ballydown (ANT 041:045, Grid Ref D43190092), Tullycreenaght (ANT 044:069, Grid Ref J13749062), Middle Divison (ANT 052:146, Grid Ref J40269060), Ballygortgarve (ANT 059:173, Grid Ref J14387620), Teraghafeeva (ANT 067:013, Grid Ref J22786325), Ballyarnet (LDY 14A:025, Grid Ref C44932178, LDY 14A:031 Grid Ref C44202145, LDY 141:03, Grid Ref C44982199), Ballynagard (LDY 14A:028, Grid Ref C45692258), and Collkeeragh (LDY 14A:033, Grid Ref C47512117). The following sites have also been excavated but are not recorded in the SMR; Hightown Road (Grid ref J29888200, McConway 2002, Grid ref J300820, Long 2003), Rathlin Island (Grid Ref D13955156, McConway & McQuaid 2006), Steeple Road (Grid Ref J16068822, Heaney 2007), Ballylagan (Grid Ref J35199357, Crothers 2007a), Coolkeeragh (Grid Ref C47512117, Halpin 2004, Halpin 2007), Oakgrove (Grid Ref C46071993, Chapple 2004, Chapple in prep), Ballymenagh (Grid Ref C80412252, Crothers 2007b), Ballynacally More (Grid Ref C83402118, Crothers 2007c) and Coolagh (Grid Ref C58752202, Crothers 2007d). Of these sites only Ballyarnett (LDY 14A:025), Ballydown, Balygortgarve, Hightown Road, Coolkeeragh, and Oakgrove had artefactually or radiocarbon-derived Bronze Age dates. The remainder were either not radiocarbon dated or had no artefactual remains. It is, however, likely that the vast majority, if not all of these undated sites were Bronze Age.

gullies, (C633, C636, C1014 and C1051) and a pit which was uncovered in the immediate southwest of the feature (C297). All of the 23 postholes would appear to have been substantial enough to support large wooden posts. The full extent and shape of the feature became clear following clean-up. It lay mostly within Grid D8 but impinged upon Grids D7 to the north, C8 to the east and E8 to the west. It measured 11.82m north to south and 12.76m east to west and was sub-circular in shape. Partially enclosing the postholes to the north, northeast and east and associated with the entrance feature, were two cuts, C633 and C1014, which have been interpreted as possible foundation slots or drains/drip trenches. If the cuts were drains, they were situated to transport water coming downslope, around and away from the structure, thus keeping it relatively dry. CONTEXTS The contexts have been grouped by their probable functions. ENTRANCE FEATURE The entrance feature (Fig 118) was located at the north of Feature 11 and consisted of four linear/curvilinear cuts (C633, C636, C1014 and C1051), five postholes (C997, C1126, C1213, C1218 and C1225) and 10 stakeholes (C1216, C1221, C1223, C1383, C1385, C1387, C1389, C1705, C1707 and C1709). A group of 23 stakeholes was also found in the northern portion of Feature 11, and appeared to be associated with the entrance feature. Eleven stakeholes (C1503, C1517, C1519, C1521, C1523, C1525, C1527, C1529, C1535, C1537, and C1628) lay to the north of C633/C636 while 12 stakeholes (C1503, C1516, C1517, C1519, C1521, C1523, C1525, C1527, C1529, C1535, C1537 and C1628) were found to the south of C633/C636. Although they cannot be easily resolved into an interpretable structural element or internal division, it is nevertheless argued that they functioned as part of the entrance feature.

CONCLUSION The remains uncovered in the far south of the drumlin seem to point to Feature 10 being an area of burnt mounds. These pits would have been used repeatedly and over a significant period of time and could have been used for cooking, industrial and/or ritual activities. It should also be noted that it is common for the area surrounding and overlying burnt mound pits to be covered in a layer of the same stony material which was found within the pits. It is therefore possible that such a layer had covered all six pits which made up this feature and that may have been removed either during later agricultural activities or during topsoil stripping of the site.

CURVILINEAR GULLIES C1014 (Fig 116) was stratigraphically the earliest of the curvilinear gullies. This feature was a drip trench which lay to the north of Feature 11 and was cut by the later drip trench C633. C1014 curved northwest for 3.3m, then roughly east to west for 3.1m before curving to the southwest for 1.8m and south for 1.6m, terminating to the east of C1543. It varied in width from 0.46m to 0.63m and in depth from 0.12m to 0.18m. The base of the cut was quite a shallow ‘V’-shape changing to almost flat in places. The lower portion of this curvilinear gully was filled by a random spread of field stones, F994, that were overlain by mid to dark brown, loose, sandy clay (F1015). F1015 was cut by C1051, a recut of C1014. C1051 was visible as a steep-sided cut along the northern edge of C1014 and on the western side of its southern extremity. Overall, C1051 measured 5.4m long, 0.08m wide and 0.06m deep and was filled by F1052, which was dark brown, sandy, clay with no obvious inclusions.

4.11 FEATURE 11 BRONZE AGE HOUSE (1446-1266 CAL BC) LOCATION Feature 11 (Pls 11-12, Figs 114-118) was uncovered in the southern part of Area North in grids C8, D7, D8 and E8. The feature lay between 15m and 17m OD. The ground in this grid sloped gently southeast to northwest. The subsoil within the grid was orange-brown clay (F2). DESCRIPTION Feature 11 was formed from 23 postholes (including the large possible entrance postholes C997, C1225, C1218, C1213), 172 stakeholes, that may have formed the walls and internal divisions of a structure, four linear/curvilinear

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Plate 11: Feature 11 fully excavated with bamboo rods marking stakeholes, looking south

Plate 12: Feature 11 entrance, mid excavation showing stones within slot

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 114: Post-excavation plan of Feature 11

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 115: Close up of northwest quadrant of Feature 11

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 116: Close up of northeast quadrant of Feature 11

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 117: Close up of southwest quadrant of Feature 11

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND

Figure 118: Close up of southeast quadrant of Feature 11

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS C633 was a curvilinear gully, which lay in the eastern and northern portions of Feature 11. It was stratigraphically later than C1014, with both its east and west ends terminating within the earlier cut. The angle of the cut changed from being steep in the north to shallow in the south. It was orientated northwest to southeast for 7.3m then east to west for 7.32m. At its south-eastern end it was 0.2m wide, widening to 0.4m mid way along this section. At the eastern end of the east-west stretch it was 0.8m wide, while at the western end of the same stretch it measured 0.3m wide. The depth of the trench was less varied being between 0.2m and 0.25m. The gully was deeper towards the north and northwest of the feature, which may have been due to differential preservation when the area was scarped during agricultural improvements. This gully contained loose, dark brown, sandy clay (F634) with charcoal flecking and occasional small stone inclusions throughout.

The larger of the stones were located around the top of the cut while the smaller stones were in the lower parts. C1218 was a circular posthole with sharply sloping sides and a slanted base. It was 0.43m in diameter and 0.25m deep and contained very dark brown, loose, clayey sand (F1219) with frequent flecks of charcoal throughout. Four sherds (FN 1-4) and some fragments (FN 5) of Later Bronze Age pottery were retrieved from this context (Appendix 1). Within this fill, a deliberate setting of tightly packed, small to medium-sized stones was uncovered (S1220) (average: 0.14m long, 0.08m wide and 0.06m thick), which were interpreted as packing stones for a post. C1218 appeared to form a pair with posthole C1213. C1213 was circular with sharply sloping sides, a slanted base and measured 0.55m in diameter and 0.35m deep. It was filled by dark brown, loose, clayey sand (F1214) with frequent flecks of charcoal throughout. Within this fill a deliberate setting of tightly packed, small to medium-sized stones was uncovered (S1215) (average: 0.12m long, 0.08m wide and 0.04m thick). This arrangement was interpreted as packing stones for a post.

C633 was cut all along its northern side by C636; a seemingly deliberate re-cut. There are parallels between this gully and C1014, which was re-cut along its northern edge by C1051. This may indicate a degree of contemporaneity between the two features. C636 was a linear, steep-sided, gully, which was confined to the northern side of the east-west section of C633. It measured 7.32m long, 0.08m-0.16m wide, 0.18m deep, and was filled by F635, dark brown, slightly compact, silty clay with a high percentage of charcoal within its matrix. F635 also contained frequent small, sub-oval field stones. In certain places, such as the eastern end of the cut, they seemed to form a setting (S637), as though they had been packing stones around a vertical post. S637 was formed of a number of tightly packed stones that, on average, measured 0.18m by 0.16m by 0.12m. Although this particular grouping appeared to suggest the former presence of a post, this may have been a fortuitous arrangement as it was an isolated occurrence.

STAKEHOLES TO THE NORTH OF C633/C636 Unless stated otherwise, all of these stakeholes were filled by brown, clayey sand, which contained very occasional flecks of charcoal throughout. Three of these stakeholes (C1705, C1707 and C1709) formed a north to south alignment, to the west of posthole C997. C1705 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base (diameter: 0.06m by 0.09m deep) and was filled by F1704. C1707 was a circular, elongated ‘V’shaped stakehole with a pointed base. It measured 0.06m in diameter by 0.09m deep and was filled by F1706. C1709 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a flat base. It measured 0.07m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1708.

LARGE POSTHOLES BETWEEN GULLIES C663/C636 AND C1014/C1051 The area between curvilinear gullies C663 and C1014 was dominated by four large postholes (C997, C1225, C1218 and C1213), that may have constituted an entrance to Feature 11 (Fig 119). C997 was sub-circular, with steep sides terminating in an open ‘V’-shaped base. It measured 0.55m long, 0.44m wide and 0.14m deep, was orientated east to west and was filled by dark brown, sandy, loose clay (F998) with occasional flecks of charcoal throughout.

Three stakeholes (C1383, C1385 and C1387) formed a linear arrangement to the south and southeast of posthole C1225. C1383 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.04m deep and was filled by F1384. C1383 was a circular, ‘U’shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.06m in diameter by 0.04m deep and was filled by F1386. C1387 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.07m in diameter by 0.03m deep and was filled by F1388. This arrangement was partially mirrored by two small stakeholes (C1221 and C1223) which lay to the southwest of posthole C1218. C1221 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.0.5m deep and was filled by F1222. C1223 was a circular, ‘V’shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.08m deep and was filled by F1224.

C1225 was a circular posthole with steep sides and a concave base. It was located to the east of posthole C997 and appeared to form a pair with it, a situation mirrored further east where postholes C1218 and C1213 formed a similar configuration. It measured 0.43m in diameter and 0.25m deep and was filled by very dark brown, loose, clayey sand (F1226) with frequent flecks of charcoal throughout. Within this material was a deliberate setting of tightly packed, small to medium-sized stones (S1382) (average: 0.12m long, 0.07m wide and 0.06m thick) that appeared to be the remains of packing stones around a post.

The final stakeholes in this area (C1126, C1389 and C1216) were larger than the rest and formed an alignment that ran from west-northwest to east-southeast across the large postholes C1225 and C1218. C1126 lay between 49

EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND postholes C997 and C1225; C1389 lay between the former and posthole C1218, while C1216 lay between postholes C1218 and C1213. C1126 was a sub-circular stakehole with very steeply sloping sides. It measured 0.14m long, 0.11m wide and 0.22m deep and was filled by brown, loose, friable, sandy, clay (F1127). C1389 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.16m in diameter by 0.08m deep and was filled by light brown, loose clayey sand (F1390). C1216 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by brown, loose clayey sand (F1217) with some charcoal inclusions throughout.

plastic sand (F1502). C1523 was a circular, shallow ‘U’shaped stakehole with a pointed base. It measured 0.07m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by orangebrown, firm clayey, sand (F1522). C1517 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.09m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1516. C1519 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.1m deep and was filled by orange-brown, firm clayey, sand (F1518). STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING Within Feature 11 some 19 postholes were identified as the probable remains of structural elements of the building. Of these, 13 may be designated as external wall supports (C1157, C1175, C1177, C1187, C1201, C1231, C1485, C1509, C1511, C1539, C1543, C1565 and C1638), while the remaining six (C357, C1309, C1363, C1455, C1547, and C1553) appeared to be internal supports.

STAKEHOLES TO THE SOUTH OF C633/C636 Unless stated otherwise, all of these stakeholes were filled by brown, clayey sand, which contained very occasional flecks of charcoal throughout. Starting from C1628, the stakeholes are described from west to east. C1628 was a circular, ‘U’ shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.06m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1627. C1537 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.04m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1536. C1535 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a pointed base. It measured 0.04m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1534. C1525 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.03m in diameter by 0.06m deep and was filled by F1524. C1527 was a circular, shallow ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.08m deep and was filled by F1526. The fill of this cut, had organic matter in the matrix of its fill while the majority of the cuts seemed to have had some charcoal in their fills. Why this should be is unclear. It may be that some of the organic matter was either decayed wood from the stake that had been within the hole or derived from peat intruding from above after the removal or degrading of the stake.

EXTERNAL STRUCTURAL POSTHOLES Beginning with C1565, in the north-eastern corner of Feature 11, the postholes of the external wall are described in a clockwise manner (Figs 120-122). C1565 was a sub-circular, ‘U’-shaped posthole with steep sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.26m long, 0.16m wide, and 0.12m deep and was filled by brown, firm, clayey sand (F1564). C1511 was a circular, ‘U’shaped posthole with a ‘step’ on its west side and a flat base. It measured 0.18m in diameter by 0.12m deep and was filled by orange-brown, firm, clayey sand (F1510) with some charcoal inclusions throughout. Within this material were two stones (average: 0.09m long, 0.05m wide, 0.04m thick), which may have been packing stones around a post. C1509 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped posthole with a ‘step’ on its east side and a flat base. It measured 0.2m in diameter by 0.16m deep and was filled by black/brown, peaty, clayey sand (F1508). Within this material were two stones (average: 0.09m long, 0.05m wide, 0.04m thick) which may have been packing stones for a post. C1231 was a circular, ‘V’-shaped posthole with steeply-sloping sides with a rounded base. It measured 0.18m in diameter by 0.44m deep and was filled by dark grey, loose clayey sand (F1230) with frequent flecks of charcoal throughout. Within this material there were a number of medium-sized stones that may have been the remains of packing stones but were not in situ.

C1529 was a circular, shallow ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.07m in diameter by 0.08m deep and was filled by F1528. C1521 was a circular, shallow ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a rounded base. It measured 0.06m in diameter by 0.04m deep and was filled by F1520. C1503 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped stakehole with a pointed base. It measured 0.08m in diameter by 0.07m deep and was filled by orange-brown, loose clayey,

Figure 119: South facing section through entrance feature large postholes C997, C1213, C1218 and C1225

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RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Figure 120: North facing sections through external supporting postholes C1565, C1511, C1509, C1157 and C1231

Figure 121: North facing sections through external supporting postholes C1755, C1187, C1201 and C1177

Figure 122: North facing sections through external supporting postholes C1585, C1543, C1539 and C1638

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EXCAVATIONS OF PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT TOOMEBRIDGE, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND C1157 was a circular, ‘U’-shaped posthole. It measured 0.2m in diameter by 0.19m deep and was filled by dark grey, loose clayey sand (F1156) with flecks of charcoal throughout. Within this material was a deliberate setting of small stones (average: