Winter 2020/21 Editor: Duncan Berryman School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN - Queen's ...
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Winter 2020/21
Editor: Duncan Berryman
School of Natural
and Built Environment,
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast BT7 1NN
newsletter.ulsterarcsoc@gmail.com
WINTER 2020/21 | 1
A Message from the President On behalf of the UAS Committee, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. The UAS Committee is currently in the process of finalising the UAS lecture and workshop programme for 2021 and we will be letting UAS members know about these in the next few weeks. For the immediate future in 2021, our lectures and workshops will continue to be held remotely and, as before, we will be providing members with the information about how to participate in these. We are also intending to put more UAS material up on YouTube throughout the year that UAS members can access. The UAS Committee will continue to carry out its role to disseminate information about new archaeological projects, research and publications in Ulster and beyond. The production of the next volume of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology is proceeding and we hope that volume 76 will be published within this calendar year. Planning and preparation for our annual Discovery conference (Discovery 2021!), organised in conjunction with our colleagues in Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast, will commence in the spring. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of all UAS face-to-face archaeological activities such as lectures, field trips, workshops, excavations and the field survey of monuments in 2020. These will not resume in 2021 until it is safe once again to do so. The good news that vaccines for the coronavirus are now becoming available means that we are hopeful that face-to-face UAS activities may be able to resume at some point later this year. We will be reviewing this situation regularly, in line with current health and safety and medical guidance. 2 | WINTER 2020/21
As always, my thanks to all of the members of the UAS Committee for
their continued commitment, passion and hard work to ensure that the
Society continues to function so efficiently.
Please keep checking the UAS website and UAS Facebook site regularly
for details about UAS activities.
With all best wishes,
Ruairí
Ruairí Ó Baoill
President, Ulster Archaeological Society
Membership Subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on the 1st January 2021. Please send cheques for £20 (full)
or £25 (full non UK) or £7.50 (retired/student) or £10 (retired/student non UK) to
the Hon. Treasurer, Lee Gordon, 135 Old Holywood Road, Belfast BT4 2HQ. You
can also use PayPal on the website – http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/JoinUs/
If you are a U.K. taxpayer, you can increase the value of your contribution, at no
extra charge to you, by signing a gift aid declaration. If you pay by PayPal you
must tick the gift aid permission box even if you have previously signed a gift aid
declaration to allow the society to claim the gift aid.
If you pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of gift aid
claimed on all your subscriptions & donations in that tax year it is your
responsibility to pay any difference.
N.B. Please notify the Hon. Secretary, Ken Pullin, (16 Knockbreda Park, Belfast
BT6 0HB) if you:
• Want to cancel this declaration
• Change your name or home address
• No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.
WINTER 2020/21 | 3
Annual General Meeting The 79th Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Archaeological Society will be held online via Zoom (https://zoom.us), the details are: Date: Monday 7.30pm 22nd February 2021 Meeting ID: 823 6830 5893 Passcode: UAS_AGM_21 Voting will take place using the polling facility within Zoom. Only paid-up members can vote during the AGM Agenda 1. President's Address. 2. Minutes of 78th AGM held on Monday 24th February 2020. 3. Honorary Secretary's Annual Report for 2020. 4. Honorary Treasurer's Annual Report for 2020. 5. Election of Officers. 6. Election of two Ordinary Committee Members (3-year term). 7. Election of Honorary Auditor. 8. Business of which notice has been given. 9. Any other business. Notices of motion and nominations for officers and committee positions should reach Mr Ken Pullin, Hon. Secretary, Ulster Archaeological Society, (16 Knockbreda Park, Belfast BT6 0HB or email ulsterarchaeolsoc@gmail.com) not later than Monday 1st February 2021. The President, three Vice Presidents, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Editor Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Hon. Editor UAS Newsletter and Hon. Auditor are elected annually. Two Ordinary Members of the General Committee retire annually and are not eligible for re-election for one year. 4 | WINTER 2020/21
The conference papers were
Discovery 2020! Fourth organised into thematic sessions to
Annual Review of make it as much like a normal
conference as possible. The theme
Archaeological Discoveries
of the first session was community
in Ulster conference archaeology. Dr Heather
Montgomery opened the session
2020 has been a strange year, but with an excellent talk about the
the UAS wanted to retain some excavations she led at Magilligan
continuity and host our annual Military Training Centre, which
Discovery! conference. As large provided an opportunity for local
gatherings were not an option, we schools to learn about the history
explored ways to deliver our of the area. The excavations
conference online. After spending uncovered significant evidence of
a few months gathering presenters First World War training trenches, it
and getting them to record their was also the only community
lectures, we were able to put excavation carried out by the
everything live on Saturday 7th Centre for Community
November. Over the day, we had Archaeology in 2020 as it
16 papers, which were enjoyed by happened in March just before
about 100 conference participants. lockdown. This was followed by Dr
Alastair Ruffell presenting work he
The conference opened on did with Jonathan McNee and
Saturday with a welcome from Prof Liam Bradley on the discovery and
Eileen Murphy (head of ArcPal), excavation of two Second World
Ruairí Ó Baoill (president of UAS), War aircraft from County
and Dr Duncan Berryman Monaghan, a Mk4 Spitfire and a P-
(conference coordinator). This was 38 Lightning. We then heard from
followed by a fascinating keynote Anthony Neville of the
by Dr Monique van den Dries Resurrecting Monuments group in
(University of Leiden) on the Baldoyle/Howth, he presented
importance of archaeology to some of the group's work and
communities and the positive reflected on the popularity of their
impact it has on people’s book about the heritage of the
wellbeing.
WINTER 2020/21 | 5area. To close the session, thinking about the groups of
Jonathan Barkley presented results masons who constructed the
from a community excavation at towers. The final paper in this
Arney Fort (County Fermanagh) session was Dr Barry O'Reilly who
and suggested that it may have introduced the Irish strategy for
been a Gaelic moated site rather identifying and caring for
than a fort. vernacular architecture across
Ireland; he illustrated this with
Our second session focused on many examples of rural and urban
survey and excavation and started buildings and how such structures
with Dr Paddy Gleeson. Paddy's can be conserved.
paper presented the results of
recent geophysical survey at Navan The fourth session showcased
Fort and the wider landscape, some archaeological work that has
much of which could change the been able to happen despite the
way we view Emain Macha. This Covid pandemic. Dr Colm
was followed by Dr Vicky Ginn Donnelly told us about how the
presenting a summary of recent Centre for Community
sites that have been excavated as a Archaeology at Queen’s has
result of the planning process and continued to work with its partners
by commercial companies. during lockdown through the
creation of a digital toolkit. This
Architecture and monuments was has been an excellent project that
the theme of our third session. Dr allows communities to engage with
Michelle Comber discussed the their heritage while staying safe.
existence of square ringforts and This was followed by David Craig
her identification of them as supply demonstrating how anyone can
centres, quite distinct from the make use of online tools to
purposes of the traditional circular investigate the landscape and to
ringfort. Continuing with the identify new archaeological
medieval period, Dr Michael features.
O'Mahony presented some of his
doctoral research into the structure The final session of the day
of tower houses in the British Isles, presented a range of research
6 | WINTER 2020/21topics from across Ireland. This At the end of day, there was a
started with Dr Lara Cassidy virtual wine reception on Microsoft
presenting the results of her recent Teams. This allowed participants
research into the genomics of Irish who were there on the day to see
Neolithic society and the changes each other and have a chat over a
from the Mesolithic. In particular, glass of wine, a soft drink, or a cup
Lara discussed results of individuals of tea. To close the event, Ruairí Ó
from Newgrange who were the Baoill and Prof. Eileen Murphy said
offspring of incest. Dr Connie a few words and launched volume
Kelleher gave us a taste of her 75 of the Ulster Journal of
recent book on the pirates who Archaeology.
used the Irish coast to control the
Atlantic Ocean. Thomas McErlean The whole event seemed to be a
has been working with the Historic success and everyone who
Environment Division to produce attended found something of
Statements of Significance for interest. The pre-recorded videos
several state care sites in western for the papers certainly reduced
Ulster. Thomas discussed the the stress of organising the event
purpose of these statements and on the day, but it lacked the
presented some features of the interaction of a live event.
sites he has been working on. The Hopefully next year we will be able
final paper of the day was provided to be back in the lecture theatre for
by Dr David Tosh. The Ulster Discovery 2021!
Museum has undertaken
consultations about the display of If you weren’t able to attend, you
human remains and David can still access the conference
addressed such displays in the past programme booklet (and all
and what might be the future. This previous booklets) on the UAS
was an interesting and thought- website:
provoking paper asking some https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/C
difficult questions about how and if onference/
we should display human remains
alongside artefacts. Duncan Berryman
Conference Co-Ordinator
WINTER 2020/21 | 7Archaeology and via Teams. Despite our initial
reservations it proved a great
Palaeoecology at Queen’s
success and was actually a lot of
2020 fun, and it was great to connect
2020 has been a year like no other with our students, many of whom
because of the Covid-19 crisis but are moving out into the world of
the workings of Archaeology and work or onto university courses
Palaeoecology in Queen’s have elsewhere. We were absolutely
gone on albeit with lots of the delighted to report in July that
adjustments faced by people and Archaeology and Palaeoecology
organisations across the world. once again came joint top in the
Our number one priority, beyond UK for our subject area in the 2020
keeping everyone safe and well, National Student Survey, with a
was to ensure that our students score of 100% for Student
completed their studies for the Satisfaction.
2019-20 academic year. Classes A party was held in January to
were switched to a remote learning mark the retirement of Dr Finbar
environment when the lock down McCormick after 27 years of
commenced and efforts were service to Queen’s. It was a
made to ensure that students in bittersweet affair but Finbar is still
each year group could chat online very much involved with ArcPal and
to a member of staff on a daily we hope he will continue to do so
basis should they wish to do so. long into the future. The recent
We made it through to the end of staff promotions round was a great
semester and held our Exam Board cause for celebration with Dr
meetings online when we Paddy Gleeson and Dr Will
welcomed Dr Lisa Marie Shillito Megarry being promoted to Senior
from the University of Newcastle as Lecturer and Dr Dirk Branderm and
our new External Examiner. A Dr Maarten Blaauw becoming
remote graduation event Readers. Dr Michael O’Mahony
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v gained his PhD, which focused on
=7A303UnVH08) was held on 10 tower houses in Britain and Ireland,
July and staff and students in July and we are delighted to
watched the celebration together report that seven new PhD
8 | WINTER 2020/21students will be joining us this and Lowell in the United States
autumn. The quality of the where he and Prof Audrey Horning
academic work of our students and attended the annual Society for
staff has been recognised through Historical Archaeology conference
awards of international prizes and and then met with Dave McKean
PhD graduate Dr Jeanna Loyer and Walter Hickey, friends from
(2019) won the PhD dissertation previous fieldwork ventures in
prize of the Société Lowell, and Prof Stephen
d'Anthropologie de Paris for her Mrozowski, founding director of
thesis entitled 'Life, health, and the Fiske Center for Archaeological
death in the steppe: a Research at UMASS Boston. We
bioarchaeological study of Bronze had intended to start a new
Age and Iron Age populations of transatlantic programme of
the Volga-Don region, Russia'. Dr excavation in the city this August,
Paddy Gleeson won the Martyn but obviously that has had to be
Jope Prize, awarded by the Society put on hold. We had also planned
for Medieval Archaeology, for an to run a field school for US
article ('Archaeology and myth in students, alongside our training
early medieval Europe: making the excavation for Queen’s students,
Gods of Early Ireland') published in and hopefully that too can be
Medieval Archaeology. Dr Gill resurrected in 2021.
Plunkett was elected President of A lot of interesting articles by
the Irish Quaternary Association ArcPal researchers have been
(IQUA), Dr Dirk Brandherm became published this year in journals
Editor of the Journal of Irish including the International Journal
Archaeology and Prof Eileen of Historical Archaeology, Journal
Murphy was delighted to become of Archaeological Science, Journal
a Vice-President of the Ulster of Paleolimnology, Journal of
Archaeological Society. Quaternary Science, Medieval
As always, we had a lot of exciting Archaeology, Nature, Nature
fieldwork ventures planned for Scientific Reports, Oxford Journal
2020 but many of these had to be of Archaeology, Polar Research,
put on hold. In January Dr Colm PNAS, Proceedings of the Royal
Donnelly made a trip to Boston Irish Academy, Quaternary
WINTER 2020/21 | 9Research, Quaternary Science mummy’s unwrapping in the Old Reviews, Radiocarbon, and Museum in Belfast. Eileen and Prof magazines Archaeology Ireland Rosalie David, University of and History Ireland, as well as Manchester, have recently chapters in prestigious new books. completed an edited book on Dr Dirk Brandherm’s new edited Takabuti that provides an overview volume – Aspects of the Bronze of these new scientific studies as Age in the Atlantic Archipelago, well as exploring what life may volume 3 in the Archaeologia have been like for her as a wealthy Atlantica – was published in young woman in ancient Egypt and February. In March we launched what happened to her remains our very own Irish Archaeological when they arrived in Belfast in Monograph Series with 1834. The book will be published Archaeopress. Volume 1 - Burials by Liverpool University Press in and Society in Late Chalcolithic March 2021. Another story and Early Bronze Age Ireland by Dr attracted a lot of media interest in Cormac McSparron will be out very July and involved Dr Paddy soon. Submissions are very Gleeson’s collaborative welcome and you can find out geophysical work at Navan Fort more at: which was recently published in the http://archaeopress.com/Archaeop Oxford Journal of Archaeology. Dr ressShop/Public/defaultAll.asp?Sub Will Megarry was also involved in a Series=Queen%27s+University+Be major media story in relation to the lfast+Irish+Archaeological+Monog launch of the collaborative raph+Series 'Heritage on the Edge Project' in In late January Prof Eileen Murphy January. The project uses state-of- was involved in a story that the-art 3D capture technologies attracted a lot of media attention alongside interviews and videos to when some of the new findings of record both climate change the Takabuti Research Project, impacts and local responses at including the discovery that she World Heritage Sites in Rapa Nui, had been murdered, were released Peru, Bangladesh, Scotland and by the Ulster Museum to coincide Tanzania. It is well worth a look - with the 185th anniversary of the https://artsandculture.google.com/ 10 | WINTER 2020/21
project/heritage-on-the-edge. Dr ecotourism sector: An
Melie Le Roy’s fascinating work on interdisciplinary assessment of
child labour in the past featured in World Heritage Sites in Vietnam
Discover magazine in May and Sri Lanka’. Elsewhere, Prof
(https://www.discovermagazine.co Caroline Malone’s major ERC-
m/planet-earth/the-ancient- funded FRAGSUS project, which
practice-of-child-labor-is-coming- has been investigating cultural
to-light). continuity and change in the
Dr Ryan Rabett has continued with Neolithic of Malta, is ending and
his major SUNDASIA project which several monographs have been
is exploring how prehistoric submitted for publication.
tropical communities adapted to Back in February ArcPal staff and
cycles of coastal inundation over students played an active role in
the last 60,000 years in northern the fabulous NI Science Festival
Vietnam, and how these data can with events including a workshop
help inform models and responses on Lackan Bog, Co. Down, held in
to modern climate-induced rising Rathfriland and led by Dr Gill
seas in this region Plunkett and Level 3 student,
(https://sundasia.com/). The multi- Adam Purvis; a workshop on the
disciplinary research project is ArcPal teaching collection lead by
focused on the archaeological, our postgraduate students and a
geological and ecological history weekend festival of archaeology,
of the Tràng An massif World involving many ArcPal staff and
Heritage site, Ninh Binh, Vietnam. students, that took place in the
The long-standing project has Navan Centre. Our Belfast Young
been going from strength to Archaeologists’ Club had its
strength and new funding was regular monthly meetings at the
obtained through a UK start of the year but moved to
Department for the Economy (DfE) remote sessions in May and so far
– Global Challenge Research Fund has covered topics on dinosaurs,
(GCRF) Award (2020/21 Round) for mummies, artefacts and
a spin-out pilot project: ‘Post-2020 excavation. We plan to continue
local community-based the remote meetings for as long as
management contributions in the necessary but hope to be able to
WINTER 2020/21 | 11resume face to face meetings very ‘Journeying Beyond Westeros’
soon. We would be delighted to project was completed in March
have more involvement in the YAC and the associated story book can
from members of the UAS whether be read online:
as Assistant Leaders or with http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/commu
younger family members. If this is nityarchaeology/OurProjects/Story
of interest, please email - Maps/
belfastyac@qub.ac.uk – to find out Films were launched of projects
more. involving the CCA on excavations
at Boomhall in Derry and
Centre for Community Downpatrick and these can be
Archaeology viewed on the ArcPal YouTube site:
Staff in the Centre for Community https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Archaeology (CCA) were also busy UCGl1c_dt-Mg58f9nELc93zA
though many have been on As part of our activities to
furlough for the past few months. commemorate the 175th
We were thrilled in February when anniversary since the start of the
their sterling work was recognised Great Famine in 1845 the CCA had
at the QUB Staff Excellence planned an experimental
Awards ceremony for 2020 and archaeological project growing
they won the university's Lumper potatoes on the Meharg’s
'Community Impact' award which family farm near Dundrod in the
recognises the significant Belfast hills, in association with the
contribution that members of the Belfast Hills Partnership and Glens
university's staff have made to the of Antrim Potatoes. A variety
local community and wider society. whose name is most associated
We were also delighted that the with the Blight at the heat of the
CCA’s Grace McAlister was Great Famine, the Lumper had
awarded DfE PhD funding in been almost consigned to history
January to commence doctoral until Michael McKillop from Glens
research on community of Antrim Potatoes got hold of
archaeology and its impact on some ‘heirloom’ seed potatoes
school children. The National about 10 years ago and
Heritage Lottery Fund-funded recommenced growing the variety.
12 | WINTER 2020/21When it became clear that we McDermott, Dr Alastair Ruffell
would be unable to run a (Geography) and Dr Colm Donnelly
community project Brian Sloan undertook a geophysical survey at
planted some of the potatoes in his Killyloughran Fort in south Armagh.
own vegetable patch and has In partnership with the Creggan
provided updates on their progress Local History Group, and
on the ‘QUB – Archaeology at supported by the Newry Mourne
Queen’s’ Facebook site. and Down District Council, the
At the start of March CCA was CCA had made a successful
excited to report on the first of its application to the Royal Irish
programme of excavations for the Academy for funding to support
year – little did we know then that the work at this enigmatic site.
this would turn out to be probably Local tradition states it was the
our only excavation in 2020. A location of a Medieval church that
team, led by Dr Heather was in use prior to the
Montgomery, undertook a establishment of a new church in
community project commissioned nearby Creggan in the 16th
by the Ministry of century. We are looking forward to
Defence/Defence Infrastructure hearing more about what the
Organisation, supported by 2 results have revealed.
Royal Irish Engagement Team and The CCA is currently working with
in collaboration with the Causeway the UAS Committee to establish
Coast and Glens Heritage Trust on the programme for the
the MoD/DIO Magilligan Training forthcoming Discovery 2020!
Estate. The key purpose of the conference which will be held in
project was to connect local November. The event will be
people with the First World War remote and online this year, but we
heritage in their area and to have assembled a great
increase understanding of the life programme of lectures and no
of the soldiers and the training doubt it will be a very informative
regime within the camp during the event. Dr Siobhán McDermott of
First World War. the CCA received seed funding
Some CCA fieldwork commenced from the QUB Engaged Research
in late August when Dr Siobhán Fund to establish a digital resource
WINTER 2020/21 | 13so we can continue to engage with emergence and development of
community groups. Working in nomadism in the Altai’. Dr Gerard
collaboration with the Lough Barrett was awarded funding from
Neagh Landscape Partnership, this the Royal Irish Academy for an
‘Community Archaeology Toolkit’ exciting new project on ‘Northern
has been designed to provide Ireland’s Round Towers:
insight into how archaeologists Establishing a Chronology and
undertake their work, while Technological Understanding
providing information that the through mortar’. The work of the
participants might then use to lab was integral in the exciting
inform their own research into the discovery of the remains of the
monuments in their localities and seventh-century St Eanswythe,
make funding applications to granddaughter of King Ethelbert,
support this work. The Toolkit will in a church in Kent!
be launched imminently and may
be of interest to members of the Dendrochronologist, David Brown,
UAS so please keep an eye on our was able to conduct field projects
Facebook site for further again in August and he helped
information. David McMeekin from Garvagh
Museum to establish a date for a
14CHRONO Centre for Climate, timber that was used to support a
the Environment and Chronology pew in the gallery of the old First
Staff in the 14CHRONO Centre for Garvagh Presbyterian Church, that
Climate, the Environment and was built sometime in the early
Chronology have also been busy. 17th century and was demolished
Earlier this year, it launched its new in 1971. He also visited Laurel
website (http://14chrono.org) Cottage near Waringstown,
which is packed with interesting Craigavon, to see if
information about the techniques dendrochronological dating of the
used in the Centre. Prof Paula cottage’s roof timbers could
Reimer and Dr Svetlana Svyatko establish if it dates to the 17th
were awarded funding from the century, as is the case with other
Leverhulme Trust for a project buildings in the area.
exploring ‘Migration or adaptation:
14 | WINTER 2020/21Recently the latest INTCAL Current Research by
calibration curves were published
postgraduate students
and you can read more about
these in a piece just published in within QUB ArcPal
The Conservation that involves Prof
Paula Reimer The number of postgraduate
(https://theconversation.com/from- researchers in ArcPal has grown in
cave-art-to-climate-chaos-how-a- recent years and they wanted to
new-carbon-dating-timeline-is- take this opportunity to update
changing-our-view-of-history- UAS members on the current areas
143620. While most ArcPal staff of research.
are still working remotely the
14CHRONO team were the first to
Researcher Name: Judith Findlater
resume work on campus at the
start of July and they have been Project Title: Feeding Medieval
beavering away clearing the Carrickfergus – A Multi-proxy Study
backlog of samples submitted for of Livestock Husbandry in a
radiocarbon dating put on hold Frontier Town
because of the lock down. Project Abstract: The project is to
ascertain how Carrickfergus
Despite the pandemic it is clear operated within the Gaelic
that the ArcPal team has been as landscape throughout the
busy as ever and we have all been medieval period. This is to be
getting used to the new remote achieved through the study of
way of working. To keep up to historical sources, maps, landscape
date with our activities and events survey, zooarchaeology and
please keep an eye on our isotopic analysis. The
Facebook site – ‘QUB – relationship/interactions between
Archaeology at Queen’s’. Carrickfergus town and the
hinterlands are to be explored
Eileen Murphy using the above resources. This is
Department of Archaeology to provide new socio-economic
Queen’s University Belfast data through livestock economy of
the time. The amalgamation of
WINTER 2020/21 | 15historical sources and previous Project Abstract:My project aims to
works will be completed and new uncover changes in climate and
studies will be made on previously land-management strategies in the
unanalysed zooarchaeological Irish Bronze Age using a multi-
assemblages. This information will proxy approach. I will analyse peat
be reviewed with the study of and lake sediments from locations
isotopic elements of Strontium, of known Bronze Age settlements
Oxygen and Sulphur (and possibly in Ireland as well as
Carbon and Nitrogen) on some of archaeobotanical, zoological, and
the faunal assemblages that will human remains.
enable an analysis of the mobility The peat cores will be sampled
of the livestock throughout the from ombrotrophic bogs, as
medieval period to be carried out. changes in land-management
It is also hoped that the results strategies should not affect their
gathered will aid in providing δ15N values. Comparison with
additional isotopic data for the nitrogen stable isotopic values
baselines in Ulster. from lake sediments will help me
Researcher Biography: I completed uncover whether changes in the
my BSc in nitrogen cycle were caused by
Archaeology/Palaeoecology at palaeoclimate changes and/or
QUB, MSc in Osteoarchaeology at land-management strategy
Bournemouth University and have changes. Other stable isotopes will
just started my PhD, funded by also be recorded (δ13C and
Northern Bridge Consortium, at δ18O), and pollen analysis will be
QUB in collaboration with Historic performed. Testate amoebae will
Environment Division (DfC). be counted alongside pollen in
peat cores.
Researcher Name: Sarah Ferrandin Stable nitrogen isotope analyses
will be performed on
Project Title: Investigating the
archaeobotanical, zoological, and
Timing and Causes of Nitrogen
human remains. Herbivore bone
Cycle Changes in Bronze Age
collagen δ15N values reflect
Ireland
several years of dietary intake and
16 | WINTER 2020/21hence provide a broader spatio- physical, social, political, and
temporal perspective. economic landscapes of medieval
Researcher Biography: I am a Ireland.
French-born chemist who is really Researcher Biography: I graduated
passionate about the use of from Queen's University Belfast
radiocarbon dating and stable with a BSc in Archaeology-
isotopes in Archaeology. I have a Palaeoecology and the University
Master of Chemistry from the of York with an MA in Medieval
University of Aberdeen, and have Archaeology, before working in
just started a PhD funded by commercial archaeology in
QUADRAT in Archaeology and England for a couple of years. My
Palaeoecology at Queen’s dissertations in my degrees both
University Belfast. focussed on small aspects relating
to late medieval parish churches in
different counties of Ulster, and
Researcher Name: Louise Moffett
this PhD is the opportunity to build
Project Title: The Place of the Late on earlier interests and really
Medieval Church in Ulster investigate parish churches in the
Project Abstract: This thesis will landscapes they were a part of.
examine how power and cultural
identity were negotiated and
Researcher Name: Jim Bright
displayed in local parish churches
in medieval Ireland (c.1169- Project Title: ‘Digital
1530AD). It focusses on the phenomenology’: interrogating the
northern dioceses of the experience of diachronic ritual
ecclesiastical province of Armagh landscapes through combined
as a case study (similar to the remote sensing, 3D reconstruction
modern province of Ulster). It will and virtual reality modelling.
investigate how the local lords and Project Abstract: This project
lay communities related to and harnesses the potential for
invested in their local parish combining photogrammetry, 3D-
churches, and how these local modelling and virtual-world
churches were impacted by and in engines, as integrated analytical
turn themselves affected the tools for spatial and cognitive
WINTER 2020/21 | 17analysis and simulation of multi- Rediscovering the lost sites:
period landscapes. It focuses on a
The Larne Viking Burial
selection of Ireland’s ‘royal-sites’:
Navan Fort, Tara, Rathcroghan, In 1840, workmen constructing a
Knockaulin and Cashel. It will tramway on the coast near Larne,
systematically address the Co. Antrim discovered a skeleton
changing nature and role of these of ‘gigantic proportions‘ and
landscapes through Iron Age and associated grave goods. From the
medieval periods, by: description of the grave goods it
(i) interrogating the effect of was believed to be the burial of a
structures on the organisation and viking warrior. The antiquarian
experience of space at ‘royal’ sites Joseph Huband Smith dealt with
the find and published this brief
(ii ) examining how older
description: “some lime quarries
monuments impacted the
having been lately opened along
evolution and imagination of these
the shore, at a distance from the
spaces through time
jetty, or a wooden pier, at which
Researcher Biography: Jim small coasting vessels, trading
completed his Master’s degree in between Larne and the opposite
Orkney, Scotland focusing on ports of Scotland, usually taking
digital heritage and creating 3D their cargoes, it became necessary,
models at The Cairns and The Ness for the greater convenience of
of Brodgar excavations. Before transporting limestone from the
moving to Belfast to begin his PhD newly opened quarries, to
research, he worked for the Orkney construct a rail or tramway. In
Research Centre for Archaeology, levelling the line marked out for
in a professional capacity, and the purposes of such construction,
became a digital heritage in the afternoon of the 7th of last
consultant specialising in November, the workmen
photogrammetry and geographical discovered these remains at a spot
information systems. three quarters of a mile distant
from the town of Larne, about
seventy yards from the sea shore,
18 | WINTER 2020/21and about five feet above the level coast road. The route of the
of high water mark“. tramway can be seen on the map.
A newspaper article from the
Over time, the location of this Larne Weekly Reporter dated 1872
important discovery faded and reports the following story:
until recently, the exact location “The lands of Corran and Drumalis
was thought to be lost. Recent being thus contiguous to Larne
research by Antrim County lough were of course witness to
Archaeological Society has brought various events, which, since the
new details to the fore. The society beginning of time, have happened
has been researching the lesser- in that lough or its immediate
known sites of east Antrim for over neighbourhood. These events
20 years and has rediscovered however, belong rather to the
eight sites previously thought lost. history of the lough than to the
Using historical records, maps, history of the lands, but I may
local newspapers, local knowledge mention that in the year 1840 when
and industrial heritage records the excavations were being made by
society was able to identify the Mr Agnew for the construction of a
area of the Larne viking burial. The tramway between the Corran of
1st edition OS map shows a quarry Larne and the limestone quarries
in the Blackcave townland in an along the shore, the labourers
area known as Waterloo. This discovered near the Bankheads, a
quarry was owned by William human skeleton of rather gigantic
Agnew of Kilwaughter Castle who proportions, together with a sword
had a lease of Curran and Drumalis of corresponding size, and some
townland and was responsible for ornaments of an antique and
building a quay or pier just north of curious construction. These were
the present harbour. The 2nd probably the remains of some
edition OS map shows that the Scandinavian invader of our shore,
quarry operation had moved north for Larne lough was in ancient
of the 1830 workings. This move times very much frequented by the
may have been necessary due to Norsemen who were sea-pirates,
the construction of the Antrim and history tells us that in the year
1018 our lough was the scene of a
WINTER 2020/21 | 19great sea fight between the Ireland and we wish to thank the
Orkney jarl Einar and Connor King UAS for the invitation to do so.
of Ireland, in which the Norsemen In terms of protection of our
were defeated and driven from our archaeological heritage, the
coast.“ principal legislation is a suite of
Acts known as the National
The Antrim County Archaeological Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.
Society research team were able to The 1930 Act and subsequent
identify the quarries, the route of amending Acts set out various
the tramway, the lime kilns ways archaeological monuments
(HB06/08/007) and pier, north of and archaeological objects are
the present harbour. protected within the State and
Acknowledgements: we are deeply provides for regulation.
indebted to Robert M. Chapple The policy underlying the
and Alastair Lings for their legislation is that unregulated and
assistance. inappropriate use of detection
devices causes serious damage to
Dr. Ingrid Prunner and Stephen A. Ireland’s archaeological heritage.
Cameron The legislation therefore provides
for regulation of use of detection
devices for archaeological
Metal Detection and the purposes, with breach of the
National Monuments Acts regulatory requirements being a
serious offence. This is dealt with
The Ulster Archaeology Society primarily in section 2 of the
Monthly eNewsletter of June/July National Monuments (Amendment)
2020 included an informative Act 1987 and section 7 of the
overview of metal detection and National Monuments (Amendment)
archaeology in Northern Ireland by Act 1994. Under the Acts,
Ken Neill of Historic Environment “detection device” means a device
Division, Department for designed or adapted for detecting
Communities. This brief article or locating any metal or mineral on
attempts to give a similar concise or in the ground, on, in or under
overview of the law as it applies in the sea bed or on or in land
20 | WINTER 2020/21covered by water, but does not date or antiquity. Objects from
include a camera. relatively recent periods and 20th
In summary, it is illegal to be in century material may also be
possession of or use a detection considered archaeological objects.
device at a site or monument It is important to note, that the
protected under Ireland’s National ownership of archaeological
Monuments Acts or to use a objects found with no known
detection device to search for owner is vested in the State and
archaeological objects anywhere not individuals or landowners.
within the State or its territorial Significantly, failure to report the
seas without the prior written discovery of an archaeological
consent of the Minister. The object to the National Museum of
scheme of protection for all wrecks Ireland or designated museum
over 100 years old (section 3 of the within 96 hours of the discovery
1987 Act) prohibits any unlicensed (whether by metal detection or
surveys of such wrecks. It is chance find) is a serious offence for
important to note that following which there are severe penalties
the 1994 Amending Act, the vast and/or imprisonment. Other
majority of known and recorded offences relating to archaeological
archaeological monuments in the objects include those concerned
State are afforded legal protection with acquisition or sale. Altering of
under the National Monuments archaeological objects or export
Acts. out of the jurisdiction is regulated
The term “archaeological object” by the National Museum of Ireland.
is defined in the National
Monuments Acts and, as applies in In terms of retrieval of objects
Northern Ireland, has a broad identified by metal detection, it is
meaning in terms of date and type an offence to dig or excavate for
of object. Objects commonly found the purpose of searching for
by detectorists such as coins, archaeological objects or dig or
buttons, seals, fasteners, weights, excavate anything of
strap ends and belt mounts may all archaeological interest without an
come within the definition of excavation licence (section 26 of
archaeological object regardless of the 1930 Act as amended) or a
WINTER 2020/21 | 21Ministerial consent for works to objects generally, the excavation national monuments (section 14 of for retrieval of archaeological the 1930 Act as amended). Only objects and failure to report the Minister is authorised to grant discovery of archaeological objects detection device consents for are among the most serious searching for archaeological offences listed under the National objects within the State (or Monuments Acts. In our possession of detection devices at experience, the majority of metal protected monuments) or grant detection cases investigated archaeological excavation licences involve more than one offence and or Ministerial consent in respect of many landowners are unaware of national monuments. There is no the multiplicity of serious offences other permit for approval in being committed on their lands. relation to detecting for This is however changing. archaeological objects. The number of cases of The National Monuments Acts also unauthorised metal detection and provides certain powers to An heritage crime in general reported Garda Síochána to seize detection to the authorities is on the devices without warrant unless increase. The joint publication by detection device consent is in the National Museum of Ireland place (section 7, 1994). and the National Monuments Furthermore it is prohibited, in Service of an information leaflet in accordance with the National 2014 entitled “Advice to the public Monuments Acts (section 2, 1987), on the use of metal detection to promote, whether by advertising devices” has provided clarity on or otherwise, the sale or use of the legal position and its metal detectors for the purpose of underlying policy. It now appears searching for archaeological on most Local Authority websites objects. and An Garda Síochána website The possession and use of a www.garda.ie. It sets out the detection device on a protected legislative position in a simple FAQ monument, the use of detection format and highlights the damage device for the purposes of inappropriate metal detecting searching for archaeological causes. 22 | WINTER 2020/21
UAS readers are encouraged to and many other topics of mutual
refer to the leaflet for further interest.
information. This document will
shortly be updated and translated Pauline Gleeson
into more languages. Both the Senior Archaeologist
National Museum of Ireland and National Monuments Service
the National Monuments Service
work closely on the regulation of Maeve Sikora
detection devices and cases where Keeper of Irish Antiquities
offences have been committed and National Museum of Ireland
are together looking at new ways Further Information
to raise awareness of the issues, To download “Advice to the public
particularly among landowners and on the use of metal detection
members of the public. devices” see
Lastly, as Ken Neill points out, and https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/d
quite apart from restrictions on efault/files/media/publications/advi
detection devices set out in our ce-on-use-of-metal-detection-
respective legislation, there are devices.pdf
legal restrictions regarding entry For further information on our
onto land regardless of whether it archaeological heritage and the
is known to contain archaeological work of the National Monuments
monuments or be of Service see www.archaeology.ie
archaeological potential. Land is in For further information on the work
public or private ownership and of the National Museum of Ireland
no-one has the right to enter onto see www.museum.ie and
any lands without owners’ https://www.museum.ie/en-
permission. Entry on lands without IE/Collections-Research/The-Law-
necessary permission is likely to be on-Metal-Detecting-in-Ireland
trespass, and causing damage to For full text of the National
land may even be a criminal Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 see
offence. www.irishstatutebook.ie
We look forward to future What to do if you witness
knowledge sharing with our unauthorised metal detection
Northern Ireland colleagues on this
WINTER 2020/21 | 23Report the incident to local An Garda Síochána and the National Monuments Service or National Museum of Ireland It is not recommended to approach or challenge the detectorist in case it leads to confrontation Contact details National Monuments Service Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Custom House Dublin 1 Email: nationalmonuments@chg.gov.ie Phone: +353 1 8882000 National Museum of Ireland The Duty Officer Irish Antiquities Division National Museum of Ireland Kildare Street Dublin 2 Email: antiquitiesdo@museum.ie Phone: + 353 1 677444 24 | WINTER 2020/21
New Books be informative for anyone who has
an interest in medieval Ulster and
Gaelic Ulster in the Middle Ages - its Gaelic families. Katherine Simms
Katherine Simms is recognised as one of the
Four Courts Press, €65/£55 foremost scholars on the Gaelic
world and this volume
This impressive book is based on demonstrates why. She is able to
decades of research by Katherine intertwine history and archaeology
Simms, beginning with her BA and bring the people, events, and
dissertation in 1969 and continuing landscapes alive for the reader.
to to present day. The first section
covers the social history of Ulster Mapping Death: Burial in Late Iron
from the Iron Age to the 16th Age and Early Medieval Ireland -
century, discussing the rivalries Elizabeth O’Brien
between the Gaelic families and Four Courts Press, €55
their kingdoms. This reveals the
complexity of Gaelic society in O’Brien’s study provides a
Ulster and its interactions with the comprehensive overview of burial
wider island. The second section practices in Iron Age and Early
deals with the culture of Gaelic Medieval Ireland. Each chapter is
Ulster. This section has chapters on dedicated to a particular aspect,
kingship, the church, poets, ‘men starting with cremation and
of art’, warfare, and women. The progressing to inhumation. Other
final chapter looks at the everyday chapters consider the grave goods,
life of people, in particular their graveyards, and Atypical burials.
settlements, housing, clothing, and O’Brien has also been able to carry
living conditions. This is a scholarly out isotope analysis on several
work and will form the cornerstone burials to find whether they grew-
of all future studies of Gaelic up and lived locally to where they
Ireland, but it is written in an were buried. Unlike Cahill and
accessible manner for the non- Sikora’s excellent catalogue,
academic audience. The book is Breaking Ground, Finding Graves,
vital for anyone studying medieval this study provides a context and
Ulster, or Ireland more generally, historical narrative for
and there are many details that will understanding the burials.
WINTER 2020/21 | 25O’Sullivan et al.’s Early Medieval town, with chapters on the
Ireland did much to change how religious practices and the physical
we saw and understood life in Early remains of the buildings. This
Medieval Ireland and this volume research brings the history of the
will do the same for death and town to life and makes extensive
burial. O’Brien brings together use of contemporary voices from
archaeological, historical, and the documents.
literary sources to investigate the
changing burial practices in Ecclesiastical Landscapes in
Ireland. She is also very interested Medieval Europe - Marron
in the unusual, discussing deviant Sánchez-Pardo & Tiplic Crîngaci
burials, exceptional female burials (eds)
and grave goods; all these aspects Archaeopress, £40 (paperback) £16
are used to tell a story and deepen (ebook)
our understanding of the
communities responsible for the This volume of papers takes us
burials. This is a vital book for the from Ireland and Galicia in the west
study of Early Medieval Ireland as it to Transylvania and Bohemia in the
tells us so much about life and east, and cover a wide range of
death at that time. topics. The Irish paper looks at kin-
groups and their relationship with
Belturbet, County Cavan, 1610- churches in early medieval Ireland.
1714: The Origins of an Ulster There are also two papers on the
Plantation Town - Brendan Scott Isle of Man, reminding us of its
Four Courts Press, €9.95 close connection to Ireland. Also of
interest is a paper on monastic
This is a small book but is highly gardens, their contents, and the
informative about the 17th-century symbolism of the plants and layout.
history of the town of Belturbet. The range of papers from Eastern
We find out about the town’s Europe provides an interesting
history from its plantation in 1608, comparison to the normal western
the destruction of parts of it in the focus, revealing the similarities and
1641 rising and its growth in the differences in churches and
later 17 -century. We also learn
th
monastic landscapes across
something of the society of the Europe. This volume includes many
26 | WINTER 2020/21interesting and thought-provoking think about art and images in the
papers that help to expand our past.
understanding of the monastic
landscape within Europe. The Stone Mason: A history to
building Britain - Andrew Ziminski
Images in the making: Art, process, John Murray Books, £20
archaeology - Ing-Marie Back
Danielsson & Andrew Meirion This book is focused on the history
Jones (eds) of England, but takes an
Manchester University Press, £73 interesting perspective on the past.
Andrew Ziminski is a practicing
This is a wide-ranging volume, with stone mason and he discusses the
papers covering images of Nile history of these islands through his
hippos in ancient Egypt to gold foil encounters with the buildings and
figures in Iron Age Scandinavia. landscapes. As someone carrying
The papers all discuss the creation on an ancient tradition, with many
and use of images and art. This aspects remaining unchanged, he
volume does take a theoretical and brings a different perspective to
art historical approach to images how we can look at medieval
and artefacts. However, it is buildings or prehistoric
interesting to think about the more monuments. His working life has
abstract meanings of objects like brought him face-to-face with our
rock art and the enigmatic carved built heritage, in its many forms,
stone balls of Northeastern and these experiences gave him an
Scotland. The paper on these interest in the people of the past
stone balls is most interesting, as it and how they lived and worked.
used experimental archaeology to This collection of anecdotes and
understand how these objects observations helps to bring our
were created and discusses the past to life and reminds us of
issues with only seeing objects as important aspects of the study of
ritual or functional. Throughout this archaeology.
volume there are informative
observations and discussions of
how we should understand and
WINTER 2020/21 | 27Launch of UJA 75 28 | WINTER 2020/21
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