1972:0004 - SHANE’S CASTLE, Antrim

The rath is referred to as No. 2 to distinguish it from that excavated by Miss C. Warhurst in 1967 in the same townland. The rath was to be levelled as part of a farm improvement scheme. Approximately half of its interior was examined but although strong traces of occupation and large quantities of souterrain ware were found no structures were revealed. A complete quern topstone was found lying flat, but upside-down in a shallow pit full of almost pure charcoal. Once again, in the old soil under the rath traces of earlier activity were found - this time in the form of small pits and gullies containing sherds of Neolithic pottery and flints with burnt stones and charcoal. One small globular pot with decoration of slashed lines was found complete. It was not possible to make structural sense of the features although their extent was fairly well defined by excavation.