County: Antrim Site name: BALLYWEE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 50:36 Licence number: —
Author: Norman Crothers
Site type: Settlement cluster
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 721725m, N 889792m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.741407, -6.109546
A second season of conservation/consolidation was carried out in the summer of 1994. The main task undertaken was the clearance, consolidation, and conservation of the large souterrain (No. 3) at the east of the site. As part of this process some excavation was required to the east and south of the souterrain.
Recent infill was cleared from Chambers 1 and 2, and Creeps 1, 2 and 3. Shuttering was then erected in the cleared portions of the souterrain to prevent slippage of the large side-stones before conservation was begun. Narrow trenches were cut around the backs of the side-stones and concrete was poured in to consolidate the walls of the chambers and creeps. The destroyed west end of Chamber 1 was reconstructed and concreted from ground level up as part of this exercise. Chambers 1 and 2, Creeps 2 and 3, and the west wall of a second entrance, uncovered during excavation, were all consolidated in this manner. Creep 1 was sufficiently intact to require no consolidation, but two gaps in its roof were filled in with new lintels. The mound around Souterrain 3 was reinstated from its 'original' entrance to the 'new' entrance uncovered during excavation, although some soil may need to be added as a result of settling.
Excavation was restricted to two trenches. Trench 1 was an L-shaped baulk remaining from the 1974 excavations, which was to be removed in the hope of uncovering the remaining portions of a structure associated with Souterrain 3. The partial remains of a structure had been uncovered in 1974. Excavation of this baulk revealed a succession of structures closely associated with the souterrain, a second entrance to the souterrain at the east end of Creep 3, and a pit which may have been a kiln. Trench 2 lay between a paved area excavated in 1974 and the back of the south wall of Souterrain 3, Chamber 4. Excavation revealed the remains of at least two structures, a shallow gully widening to a shallow depression, and an extensive area of burning.
After excavation both trenches were partially back-filled to establish a ground surface to allow presentation of the main features uncovered during the various seasons of excavation. Several of the 1974 trenches were also back-filled in line with this policy. Some soil may have to be added over this extensive area, again as a result of settling.
13 Christine Gardens, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim
