1986:06 - KILCOAN MORE, Antrim

The presence of a burial ground at the White House in Kilcoan More, Islandmagee, was first reported in the Ordnance Survey memoir in 1839. Human bones, together with fragments of oak coffins, horse bones and silver coins, were found from time to time on this site which was known traditionally as the site of a battle. In the course of renovations to the White House in 1986 human bones were again discovered, in the dwelling house and the adjoining outhouse. As these bones were to be removed a small rescue excavation was immediately undertaken by Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch (DOENI) for several days in the first week of September.

Remains of four human skeletons were found in an extended position, aligned west to east, just below the clay floor of the outhouse. All the burials were set near the base of a layer of dark brown clay which was exposed nearby in a recently cut storm drain just outside the building, where it was seen to be 0.9m deep. Most of this layer had been removed inside the building, but leaving the burials largely undisturbed. A turquoise-blue glass bead of medieval type was found in the area of the left-hand bones in burial 1, giving some indication of date for the burials.