2014:207 - Monea Castle, Fermanagh

A research excavation was undertaken at Monea Castle, Castletown Monea, Co. Fermanagh during May and June 2014 and followed on from a geophysical survey which was undertaken at the site by Joanna Leigh (Licence Ref.: AE/14/17). Excavation was carried out as part of the DCAL Ulster Scots Archaeological Project (Project 7479) survey into the Ulster Plantation 1600–1650. The excavation was subject to Scheduled Monument consent (Ref: B4/95).

Monea Castle is recorded as State Care monument. The aim of the excavation was to investigate (by a series of excavation cuttings/trenches) the lands surrounding the castle in an attempt to locate the tenant dwellings of the estate. We also sought to investigate the north-east flanker of the bawn with a view to identifying if this angular flanker had originally been circular, and the base of the latrine, in an attempt to address the possibility that the eastern portion of the castle is of an earlier construction. Cuttings were located to the south, west and north of the castle, in areas which had been subject to geophysical survey. Two further cuttings were located to the exterior of the north-east bawn flanker and at the base of the latrine along the east wall of the castle.

Cutting 1 measured 8m x 4m and targeted possible pits highlighted by the gradiometer survey and a platform with numerous protruding stones noted during field inspection. An area of 8m x 2m was opened. Cutting 3 was 5m x 2m and targeted a possible wall identified by an area of extant rocks. Cuttings 1 and 3 failed to uncover any structural evidence or associated features as suggested by the geophysical survey. The anomalies were resolved as areas of loose rock surrounded by peat deposits. The possible wall in Cutting 3 was a single course of loosely scattered stones – these stones may have served as ‘stepping stones’ across the marshy lakeshore. Cutting 2 was not opened based on the negative results of Cutting 1.

Cutting 4 was 15m x 2m and targeted the positive high resistance features identified in the resistance survey and the possible pit features identified in the gradiometer survey. An area of 15m x 1m was opened. Half of it was de-sodded and just the northern portion was excavated to subsoil level. The cutting revealed an area of compacted stone with areas of peat deposits to the east and west. The stone layer was one-course deep and overlay a V-shaped ditch which had been in-filled with large rocks. This stone-filled ditch (C22) measured 3.4m wide and 1.23m in depth and is likely to correspond to a high resistance feature in the geophysical survey. No dateable artefacts were recovered from the fill of the ditch. The remainder of Cutting 4 was reduced to subsoil without encountering any archaeological features.

Cutting 5 was 10m x 2m and targeted the possible linear ditch and pit features highlighted by the Gradiometer survey. It was fully de-sodded but just the eastern half of the trench was excavated to subsoil level. This cutting contained the most artefact-rich deposits. The upper peaty deposits contained numerous fragments of window glass, slag, clay pipe, pottery, iron nails and animal bone. A single lead musket ball was also recovered. These peaty deposits overlay a 0.58m-deep layer of stone rubble (C14), beneath which was a deposit of charcoal-rich silty material (C16). Flint fragments were recovered from this deposit. This cutting appeared to reveal evidence of leveling/landscaping around the southern extent of the castle.

Cutting 6 was 10m x 2m and targeted a possible roadway or path highlighted by the gradiometer survey. It was completely de-sodded but just the eastern half of the trench was excavated to subsoil level. This cutting was located on level ground to the north of the castle and revealed a series of clay deposits.

Cutting 7 measured 2m x 2m and intended to investigate the base of the latrine chute. Cutting 7 revealed flat bedrock directly beneath the sod layer. No archaeological features were encountered and the presence of the bedrock did not allow for a careful inspection of the castle foundations.

Cutting 8 was located to the exterior of the north-east flanker. It measured 1m x 1m with a 2m x 0.5m extension to the east. This cutting was intended to investigate the foundations of the north-east flanker. Cutting 8 was excavated in two parts. The initial excavation measured 1m x 1m and extended northwards from the external wall of the north-eastern flanker. The topsoil measured c. 0.25m in depth and revealed flat bedrock at its base. No evidence of an earlier flanker foundation was noted. The trench was then extended eastwards – a cutting measuring 2m x 0.5m was inserted. Again, no trace of an earlier foundation could be detected and the trench was excavated without encountering any archaeological features.  

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