2016:272 - Rory's Glen, Kilwaughter Quarry 2016 (Phase 6), Antrim

The monitored topsoil strip at Phase 6 uncovered a section of curved gully or slot (C3), one large pit (C8) and what appeared to be several smaller stake-holes to the west of the slot. Upon excavation the stake-holes were less than 0.01m in depth. The area was covered in brown slightly sandy topsoil, to a depth of between c.0.25m and 0.8m which overlay orange brown silty clay subsoil, which in turn overlay the limestone bedrock. The identified features were all cut into the clay subsoil.

The Curving Slot: The curving section of gully C3 was 11m in length, between 0.25m and 0.58m in width and between 0.1m and 0.25m in depth. It was both wider and deeper towards the south where it survived to a better condition. C3 was cut into subsoil F2 and had smooth, variably sloping sides with sharp breaks of slope on top leading to a base which varied between U- and V-shaped. The gulley was focused on an area to its south-east and ran approximately between the 9.00 o’clock and 12.00 o’clock positions, being orientated north-east to south-west, it contained two fills, F4 and F7. F4 was relatively compact, slightly gritty, grey brown, silty clay which contained occasional; charcoal flecks. This fill surrounded F7, a concentration of stones in the southern 1.5m of the slot. These stones varied in size from fist to head sized and were all of the local basalt. No artefacts were recovered from the slot C3 or its fills.

The Hearth: Around 11m to the north of slot C3 was a large sub-circular hearth, C8. It was orientated north to south, measured 1.5m by 1.25m and survived to a maximum of 0.14m in depth. It had smooth, gently sloping sides leading to a rounded or slightly concave base with a sharp break of slope on the top at the north and east and a gradual one to the south and west. The subsoil, F2, into which the hearth was cut was badly scorched indicating that the heat generated had been considerable or repeated.

C8 contained two fills, F9 and F10. The basal layer, F9, was friable, black sandy charcoal with a gritty texture. It was partially overlain by F10, firm, grey brown, gritty sandy clay. F10 contained occasional charcoal flecks. This layer was intermittent and was no more than 0.05m in thickness. As with the slot, no artefacts were recovered from the hearth C8 or its fills.

Artefacts: A single piece of struck and retouched flint, possibly an attempt at an awl, was recovered within the vicinity of, though not in direct relation to, the features. This was initially indicative of a later prehistoric date for the features, though the Iron Age date returned may suggest that it was associated with the many areas of Neolithic or Bronze Age activity excavated to the north rather than the Iron Age activity uncovered during the current phase (Phase 6).

Discussion: The slot C3 is probably the remains of a wall slot which would have defined the outer wall of a roundhouse and probably supported a wattle and daub or split plank wall. Alternatively it was the base of a drip/drainage gully designed to divert water running downslope away from the base of such a house which has not survived. This would have kept the base of the wall dry, improved the environment and increase the life of the house. C3 survived only as an archaeological feature, cut into the subsoil and as such was only between 0.10m and 0.25m in depth and no more than 0.3m in width (apart from the southern end which contained the stones F7). As the topsoil in this area was at least 0.3m in thickness it is likely that this was a much more substantial structure when initially constructed and that the vast majority has been destroyed by later agricultural activities.

The larger pit C8 contained a great deal of charcoal within a shallow bowl and was probably the remains of an external hearth. It had contained a fire which had been intense enough to scorch the underlying ground.

One radiocarbon date was returned from this excavation. Samples were recovered from F4, the fill of C3, the curving slot. From this, charcoal was recovered from the stone-packed area to the south of Section 8. This returned a radiocarbon determination of 510 to 395 BC when calibrated at 2 sigma (Beta 438330) which placed activity in the early Iron Age. The hearth was not dated though samples were taken. Given the spatial proximity of the slot and the hearth it is likely that they are associated temporally.

The previous areas of archaeological material and artefacts uncovered at Kilwaughter range in date from the middle Neolithic to the late Bronze Age. Phase 6, the southernmost excavated to date, is the only area to return an Iron Age date and as such plugs a gap in our knowledge of the human occupation of what was obviously a desirable area to live in at the period of early farming communities to the period of the proto-historic Iron Age Kingdom of Ulster as described in the tales of Cuchulain, Emhain Macha and the Red Branch Knights.

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