1999:281 - REYFAD, Fermanagh

The first season of excavation was undertaken during 1998 to establish the nature of an enigmatic earthwork to the east of the Reyfad cup- and ringmarked stones (Excavations 1998, 72–3). This work identified a number of structural features, and a cattle astralagus recovered from a layer of heavily compacted clay in the south-west end of Trench 1 was submitted for radiocarbon dating to the Gronigen Laboratory in November 1998. This service was kindly funded by the Environment and Heritage Service of DOE NI and provided a calibrated date range of AD 1683 to 1955. The radiocarbon date and the few artefacts discovered during the first season of excavation suggested a post-medieval date for the monument. However, a combination of map evidence and local oral tradition suggested that there had been no known human occupation here since at least the mid-19th century. Further investigation was therefore required to elucidate the exact date and character of the monument.

In consultation with Brian Williams, Environment and Heritage Service, DOE NI, it was decided that a second, short season of excavation should be initiated and that this work should be directed at those areas of the site that held the greatest potential to address outstanding research questions. To assist this strategy, a programme of intensive geophysical survey was kindly undertaken by Kevin Barton, Shane Rooney and Michael Rogers from the Applied Geophysics Unit, NUI Galway, during May and August 1999. This work involved an EDM topographical survey of the monument and its immediate environs, while ground-probing radar (GPR) and magnetic susceptibility surveys were also undertaken. The topographical and GPR surveys revealed that the raised area in the north-west sector of the monument comprised two platforms. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility survey highlighted a number of large anomalies within the monument and, of greater significance, identified a region of extremely high readings to the immediate west of the earthwork.

The second season of excavation was undertaken on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service, DOE NI, and the Belcoo and District Historical Society by a volunteer crew during two weeks in August 1999. In light of the results obtained during the programme of geophysical surveying, it was decided that excavation trenches should be opened to investigate two areas. The first trench, Trench 3, comprised a 6m-by-2m opening orientated north-west/south-east to investigate the double platform feature identified during the GPR survey. The second trench, Trench 4, was positioned to the west of the monument and comprised two 2m-by-2m sub-trenches aligned north-east/south-west. This trench was opened to investigate the exceptionally high readings obtained during the magnetic susceptibility survey. A 1m-by-2m section from the south-west end of Trench 1 (investigated during Season 1) was reopened, and an extension of 1m by 2m was added to the north-west. The objective of this exercise was to further elucidate the structure of the possible foundation raft identified in 1998.

The re-examination and extension of Trench 1 confirmed the tentative foundation raft to be a natural feature. Further supporting evidence that a natural crevice occurs in the limestone bedrock along the south-western side of the site had been provided by the GPR survey, and it would appear that this crevice was naturally infilled with limestone boulders and sterile clay. This natural feature formed a firm footing for the clay cap that was placed over it to provide the defining south-west bank of the monument, as revealed during Season 1.

In Trench 3 the upper platform identified during the GPR survey proved to be a natural feature formed by the underlying limestone bedrock. The lower platform would also appear to be a natural feature. However, a concentration of clay and stone found lying over the surface of the lower platform contained a corpus of well-stratified post-medieval artefacts. This layer may represent an attempt to level the ground surface between the upper and lower platforms for agricultural purposes. Alternatively, it may be the remains of a mud wall, originally positioned on the crest of the upper platform, which had collapsed and spilled down over the surface of the lower platform.

Trench 4 was opened to investigate the high anomalies identified in this area of the site during the magnetic susceptibility survey. A level surface of stones was encountered that displayed evidence of having been burnt. This burning may have further enhanced the magnetic susceptibility levels in this area. Beneath this layer of stones was discovered a well-constructed stone-lined drain covered by a roof of large stone slabs. The drain was set in a channel cut into the natural subsoil, and the spoil created during its construction had been thrown downslope to the south-west, where it covered the upper level of the original agricultural land surface. This land surface in turn was set over the natural subsoil. It may be suggested that this was a well-drained haggard for agricultural use.

When taken in conjunction, the geophysical survey, the excavation results, the retrieved material culture and the radiocarbon date all suggest that the site was occupied during the 18th and/or early 19th century and that this was the location of a post-medieval farmstead. The secure stone footings identified during Season 1 in the north-east end of Trench 1 may have been the foundations for a house wall, while the paved area that abuts the stone footings may represent the remains of an inner farmyard. The possibility exists that a further wall of mud and stone crowned the upper platform in the interior of the monument. The stone-lined drain and haggard found to the west of the main site may have been an auxiliary farmyard. The quality of some of the artefacts (including a finely decorated pewter button and a stem from a glass drinking goblet) tend to suggest that the occupants of the settlement were of good standing and that this may have been the home of a strong farmer.

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