1992:037 - RINGMACKILROY, Down

A small-scale rescue excavation was carried out on this ploughed-out rath in advance of its total removal as part of a building development for private dwellings. The rath was situated on the summit of a drumlin with extensive views in all directions. The drumlin sloped away in all directions with steeper gradients on the north and east sides. The rath survived as a very low platform surrounded by a shallow bank with a maximum height of 0.4m. There were traces of a silted up ditch on the west and south sides only. Excavation, however, proved that the ditch did in fact extend around the south-east side of the rath as well.

Due to the imminent threat, the topsoil was stripped using a mechanical excavator under supervision. It was soon apparent that the rath had been heavily ploughed resulting in a ploughsoil with a maximum depth of 0.35m. This deep ploughing had removed all traces of occupation layers in the northernmost side of the rath where the ploughsoil rested on the subsoil of the core of the drumlin. On the southernmost side of the rath, however, there were substantial deposits due to a phase of levelling up of the slope.

The excavation of the southern half of the site revealed 4 phases of activity. The earliest phase, represented by a series of subsoil cut postholes and irregular gullies, was a pre-rath horizon of possible prehistoric date since a small polished stone axe and worked flint were found in one of the irregular gullies. Phase 2 was represented by a series of truncated features again cut into subsoil but only surviving as the butt end of postholes and stake-holes. Several irregular hollows of uncertain function were also discovered at this level. Phase 3 saw the deliberate filling of the ditch and a process of levelling up of the slope. These deposits sealed the filled-in ditch as well as providing a more level platform for the living surface. Phase 4 was represented by a further series of postholes, stakeholes and hollows cut into the Phase 3 deposition layers. There was a pit and stakehole complex on the inner edge of the bank which seems to have been used as a cooking pit. There was no evidence here or elsewhere for a hearth. The ploughed-out bank was associated with this phase and would appear to be a secondary bank replacing the earlier bank which would have been associated with the ditch. The entrance through this secondary bank was revealed during the course of the excavation.

There was no real stratigraphy surviving on the northern half of the site. A series of postholes, hollows and a very few stakeholes were all that remained. The bank had been spread by plough action on the north-east to south portion and survived only as a stony spread.

Finds recovered were mainly of souterrain ware distributed throughout the site. Several lignite fragments, slag, 2 whetstones, a small polished stone axe and a stone (?) adze were also recovered.

13 Christine Gardens, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim