2005:027 - RATHLIN ISLAND: Carravinally, Antrim

A series of test excavations were carried out on clachan settlements known as Ally Upper and Ally Lower in Carravinally townland, Rathlin, on 6–30 June 2005. One of these post-medieval sites was in existence by 1784, when Ally was listed by Hamilton (1839) as one of only three villages or hamlets on the island. The two candidates are situated on east-facing slopes and are c. 1km apart. The test excavations sought to identify which of the settlements at Ally was the 18th-century site referred to by Hamilton and to recover any associated material.

Excavation focused on the kitchen of a two-roomed house at Ally Upper. The most recent floor surface was evidenced by a broken mortared floor set in a layer of tightly packed pebbles. Under this was a mixed brown and orange layer with much charcoal. It was heavily compacted and came off in stiff layers, under which impressions of straw were evident, indicating the floor covering during continuous occupation on an earthen floor. At the same level were a series of flat stones associated with burnt material—a centrally positioned hearth previous to the more recent fireplace. Under the earthen floor was a buff-coloured compact layer into which two stone-lined drains had been set. Finds from Ally Upper included a clay-pipe stem, mainly 19th-century ceramics, glass and metal items.

At Ally Lower, three test-trenches were excavated. Trench 1 was in an ephemeral structure, with thin stratigraphy onto bedrock. Trench 2 was in a small dwelling or byre with a paved floor set onto an earthen fill on sloping bedrock. Trench 3 was set in the kitchen of an extended farmstead. A thin layer of topsoil was lifted to reveal the most recent floor structure, comprising incomplete paving and, towards the fireplace, alternating lines of blue and white beach cobbles. The unpaved area of the trench was a loose brown loam, which near the wall continued to descend to form the fill of the foundation trench. Elsewhere the original paving had been bedded in sticky orange clay. Under the clay a loose brown loam containing mortar possibly represents the preparation of mortar on an earthen floor when constructing the walls or making amendments. Under this was a drain feature running longitudinally through the house. This was a crude linear setting of stone and red brick.

The depth of stratigraphy and nature of the finds associated with the features uncovered would indicate that the dwelling at Ally Upper was more likely to be part of the 18th-century settlement that Hamilton (1839) referred to.

Reference
Hamilton, W. (1839) Letters concerning the northern coast of the county of Antrim; containing observations on the antiquities, manners and customs of that country.

University of Ulster, Coleraine