Ulster J Archaeol 61

Account of the experimental reconstruction of the Carrickfergus tankard, a coopered vessel of Iron Age date.

The depiction of the triple pipes on Irish high crosses is examined in its European context. The instrument and playing technique are described with reference to the Sardinian launeddas. It is suggested that the image of the pipes on Irish crosses was associated with the music of the devil.

the assemblage of 401 sherds ranged from Early Christian to post-medieval types, including a small number of imported wares

Fragments of Romanesque carving from a previously unknown church on Devenish are examined. The fragments come from a doorway and a chancel arch which can be attributed to c.1160 on the basis of style. The `lost' church may have belonged to a programme of reconstruction following a fire that destroyed the churches on Devenish in 1157. Many of the stones were re-used in the fifteenth century, suggesting that the Romanesque church was dismantled at this time. Includes

The paper looks at the little-known friary of Bonamargy on the north coast of County Antrim, and re-examines the traditionally held view that it is a one-period medieval site by studying the structural remains and historical sources. It is proposed that the complex underwent extensive repair in the seventeenth century when it was restored as a friary as well as serving as the burial place of the MacDonnells of Antrim. The church and site continued in use and have attracted antiquarian attention down to the present day.

Report on the archaeological investigation of the Anglican church of St John, Island Magee, following the discovery of a human mandible during restoration work on the building's fabric and the subsequent collapse of part of the central mortared aisle, revealing a cavity containing human remains. These comprised an incomplete articulated burial overlying a second articulated burial, both within coffins, and a corpus of disarticulated human remains. Includes

The agreement to build a new church in Arboe parish, County Tyrone, in 1710 is printed in full and discussed.

Brief report on the discovery of the remains of two small sub-circular huts, about 2 m in diameter, during monitoring of topsoil stripping in the area known as Sheepheads at Ballyutoag. The author suggests that, in view of the small size of the huts and the lack of any finds from the site, they were booley houses -- shelters for use while tending animals moved to the upland areas for summer grazing.