2000:0018 - LISSUE, Antrim

Monitoring of topsoil removal took place at Lissue, Co. Antrim, in the vicinity of a known ringfort. The two fields that were to be monitored were immediately to the north and west of the ringfort, which itself had been partially excavated in the 1940s (Bersu 1947; 1948).

The field to the west revealed nothing of archaeological significance other than post-medieval field boundaries.

Topographically, the field to the north sloped gently away from the ringfort, rising again at its northernmost limit towards an access road. Where the ground rose towards the access road several pits and the remains of two fulachta fiadh were identified.

The pits, five of which were identified, were c. 1m in diameter and c. 0.12m deep. Some sherds of decorated souterrain ware were recovered from the fill of one of the pits, which has been dated to the 9th century. The pits did not form any definite structure. The concentration of the pits at the northernmost area of the field, where the ground was rising towards the road, indicated that further material of archaeological significance may have continued under the road.

The heavily truncated remains of two fulachta fiadh were also identified during topsoil-stripping. These consisted of spreads of charcoal-rich soil containing large amounts of heat-shattered and fractured stones. The larger of the two spreads measured 3.5m east–west x 3m and was 0.06m deep. The smaller measured 3.2m east-west x 2.5m and was 0.1m deep. A pit was identified, partially sealed by the smaller spread of charcoal-rich material. This measured 0.9m x 0.7m and was 0.35m deep.

References
Bersu, G. 1947 The rath in townland Lissue, Co. Antrim: report on excavation in 1946. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 10, 30–59.
Bersu, G. 1948 Preliminary report on the excavations at Lissue, 1947. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 11, 131–3.

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