2009:256 - DUNDONALD: Chapel Hill, Down

It is proposed to extend a residential development at Chapel Hill, Dundonald. The proposed extension represents the third phase of construction within the site, with both the earlier phases revealing extensive archaeological remains. The excavation of the current phase of the development revealed a substantial amount of archaeological activity. This consisted of both an outer and an inner ditch and a number of internal features. Although no structures that could be associated with human habitation were excavated on the site, the archaeology uncovered during the excavation suggests activity on the site, at least sporadically, over an extended period of time.

A preliminary examination of the pottery found on site suggests activity on the site as early as the Neolithic period. In total three sherds of Western Neolithic pottery, which dates from c. 3500 BC (Waddell 2000, 44), were recovered during the excavation. Previous excavations in early 2009 (see No. 255, Excavations 2009) uncovered evidence for Neolithic activity just to the south-west of the site, including pottery and flint tools.

However the earliest evidence for occupation was during the Early Christian period. The site consisted of a large enclosure, which encircled the apex of Chapel Hill. It was c. 80m in diameter and had an entrance through the inner ditch at the south. The identified remains extended beyond the limit of excavation to the north. The two ditches represent the remains of a rath. Raths varied in size from 15m to 80m in diameter, placing this rath at the largest end of the scale, although most of them are around 30m in diameter (Barry 1987, 17). While a very small number of raths had two or three ditches and corresponding banks, most raths had a single ditch with an internal bank though no bank was evident at Chapel Hill.

It is not possible to give a definitive reason for the presence of the inner ditch, although it is obvious that the rath was reduced in size. It is possible that the area between the two ditches became unusable due to very wet ground conditions. It is certainly the case that this area was very wet prior to and during the excavation. The contraction of the rath allowed for a more compact and possibly a more defensive habitation area.

Although the area between the two ditches had been abandoned, at some stage it provided evidence for a possible industrial/working area. An arced row of stake-holes is indicative of some form of windbreak. This would have been constructed using stakes with a wicker or wattle-and-daub screen erected to protect any activity from the prevailing winds. A number of sherds of Early Christian pottery were recovered from this area during the excavation and a substantial amount of similar pottery, slag and a quernstone were recovered during previous testing.

While there is no evidence for a house structure, it is possible that any such evidence is situated to the north, beyond the modern field boundary. Certainly the discovery of the Neolithic pottery and the spindle whorl represents activity on Chapel Hill from the Neolithic period up to the Early Christian period.

References
Barry, T.B. 1987 The archaeology of medieval Ireland. Routledge, Dublin.
Waddell, J. 2000 The prehistoric archaeology of Ireland. Wordwell, Bray.