2012:015 - Ballyreagh Lower, Antrim

A series of test excavations was carried out from 10-14 September 2012 at Ballyreagh Lower townland by the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork (QUB), directed by the Centre for Maritime Archaeology (UUC). The site was one previously identified as the likely location of a 17th-century salt-making site. The site is marked as early as the mid-17th century, appearing on the Downe Survey maps c. 1657 (Molesworth 1657; PRONI D597/1/14). McGill (1988) first identified the remains of the saltworks in the area by discovering a series of rectangular reservoirs cut into the intertidal bedrock (MRA9:015). Test excavation hoped to successfully locate the remains of a built structure (Salt Pans house) associated with the evaporation of sea water in the vicinity of the rock-cut reservoir.
Two test trenches were opened to the rear of the rock-cut reservoir. The smaller 2m x 1m was located at the base of slope directly behind the reservoir. It contained a grey, sticky deposit with coal fragments and some yellow, soft stone was noted near the base. However the very wet conditions, involving bailing water from the trench and continual ingress, precluded the possibility of accurately assessing the sections or deposits. Being situated on a slope it also became hazardous and a decision was made that it should be abandoned and backfilled without further work.
The second trench was the main focus of investigation in the attempt to locate the saltpans house. It was situated within a V-shaped notch in the scarp to the rear and eastward of the reservoir. A 2m x 1m trench was opened running parallel to the shoreline, with a 2m x 1m extension to the south being opened a day later.
The upper deposit was dark brown, humic loam with a good deal of root material and some modern rubbish. Beneath this was a grey/brown deposit featuring shattered orange stone fragments; these were observed along eroding paths elsewhere in the area and presumably are associated with industrial activity. Under this was a grey, clay-like deposit with coal flecks and pockets of sandy lenses. This is similar to the overburden on slopes elsewhere in the area. The sand was notably concentrated along the seaward edge of the trench. It is likely representative of post-abandonment episodes of storm surge depositing veneers of sand on the site, which was then followed by continued slope slippage, or leeching resulting in the clay.
Under this was a substantial deposit of large angular boulders of mainly poor quality sandstone. The interstices had grey/yellow clay with charcoal and excavation continued to find pockets of sand to the seaward edge of the trench. One clearly worked stone was found among the boulders. It featured a central hole and on the underside a rim could be detected. As the deposit of boulders was removed two alignments of walls (perpendicular to each other) began to emerge. This deposit contained a fragment of a possible whetstone, some fragments of bone, four bits of slag and a small quantity of shell. The southern wall was exposed across its width (0.7m) and appeared to be double-boulder in construction – the edge on the southern side featuring smaller stone than that on the north. This might imply that the interior of the structure is located to the south with the larger stones set facing the northern, more exposed aspect. None of the stone appeared to be dressed, nor was any bonding material detected. Excavation to define the structures concentrated in the north-east part of the trench, and the removal of boulders found a clay-like grey deposit with a marked increase in charcoal. This may represent the lower part of tumble from the walls – the context was not bottomed. The more northerly wall appeared the southern and therefore is likely later – its position toward the sea may mean it was a rather small lean-to-like structure as space is limited in this direction.
Test excavation showed that a built structure was indeed present in the hinterland of the reservoir, however few finds were closely dateable – there were no ceramics and the perforated stone mentioned above turned out to be a reused hand stone from a rotary quern. Some slag recovered may relate more directly to salt production (the need to produce and work with metal pans). It is very likely however that the working floor of the pans house was not reached and much of the material removed is likely to be wall collapse post-abandonment. Future excavation therefore has every likelihood of revealing more about the material culture of the site.

References:
McGill, D. (1988) Early saltmaking in Ballycastle district. The Glynns 16, 17-21.
Molesworth, W. The Barony of Cary In the County of Antrim (copied from Downe Survey). PRONI D597/1/14

Centre for Maritime Archaeology, University of Ulster Coleraine