2014:326 - Drumadoon Site 1, Antrim

The site at Drumadoon contained an early medieval house (AD 715-890, AD 670-800), souterrain (AD 895-1420, date from collapsed material within souterrain), corn-drying kiln (AD 655-770) (Trench 311, Irish Grid Ref: D04928 18687) and associated pits and post-holes (AD 685-885).

The early medieval house measured 6.4m long and 3.2m wide with a ground floor area of 20.48m2, orientated north-west to south-east. The house had two phases; this was made clear by the presence of a clay floor, which separated two hearths, and two doorways. The door to the house for both phases was situated in the north-east corner of the building.

The largest of the features within the area was the souterrain. Comprising two main passages, named 1 and 2, the souterrain was orientated along a roughly east to west axis with two entrances/exits, one at the eastern and one at the western end

Although clearly created as a single entity Passage 1 has been split into three separate sections (A, B and C) for ease of description and discussion.

PASSAGE 1A
Passage 1A was linear in plan with a flat base and orientated north to south. It measured 6.35m long, 1.24–1.81m wide and 0.02–0.93m deep. With the addition of the two walls lining the sides the usable width of the passage was reduced to a maximum of 0.6m. The northern end of the passage exited out onto the top of the hill and the southern end joined to the western end of Passage 1B. The passage sloped down from its northern end (0.02m) to its southern end (0.93m). Where Passage 1A joined Passage 1B a creep had been constructed. This passage acted as an entrance/exit for the souterrain and a slight kink part way along its length meant that when looking up the passage from the creep into Passage 1B the entrance/exit was not visible. Both sides of Passage 1A was lined with a dry stone wall.

PASSAGE 1B
Passage 1B was linear in plan with a flat base and was orientated east to west. It measured 6.14m long, 1.76–2.1m wide and 0.57–0.94m deep. Passage 1A joined the northern face at the western end of Passage 1B, while at its eastern end it entered into Passage 1C. Passage 1B sloped up from its western end (0.94m deep) to its eastern end (0.57m deep). The sides of Passage 1B were lined with the partial remains of two dry stone walls.

PASSAGE 1C
Passage 1C was linear in plan with a flat base and was orientated north to south. It measured 6.1m long, 1.93–2.05m wide and 0.35–0.6m deep. The northern end entered into the southern side of Passage 2 and on the western side of its southern end it connected with Passage 1B. The passage sloped up from its northern end towards its southern end. The sides of Passage 1C were lined with the partial remains of two dry stone walls.

Passage 2 was the main passageway of the souterrain. It measured 18m long, 2.2–2.7m wide and 0.64–1.55m deep, and was orientated east to west. The western end was joined by the chamber, on its northern face. The passage was linear in plan and square in section. It was deepest at its eastern end (1.54m deep), rising up to 0.64m where it was joined by Passage 1 then deepened again to the west as the passage ran towards the chamber. This passage was earth-cut with no indication for dry stone walling. A step at the eastern end would have allowed access from the rear of the house into the souterrain.

CORN-DRYING KILN
The remains of a multi-phase kiln were uncovered in the northern part of the site. Given its shape and size it is assumed that this was a corn-drying kiln

The first phase of the kiln consisted of a linear cut, presumably the flue, with a pit at its north-eastern end and finally a post hole had been cut into the base. It was sub-rectangular in plan with a flat base and was a broad ‘U’ shape in section. It measured 2.25m long, 0.67-1.02m wide and 0.34m deep, orientated north-east to south-west.

The second phase consisted of a single linear cut which widened at its north-eastern end. Unlike the first phase of the kiln there was no separate pit, instead the flue was lined with stones. It was sub-rectangular in plan with a rounded base. It measured 2.56m long, 0.74-1.06m wide and 0.28m deep, orientated north-east to south-west.

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