Archaeol Ir 4

In the Clare Island Survey, a milestone of interdisciplinary work of 1911-15, not much archaeology could be recorded; but now there is known to be a court tomb, seventeen cooking places (fulachta fiadha), and a field system (not yet dated). Westropp's survey of 1911 revealed six coastal promontory and cliff forts, which would now be assigned to Early Historic and med times; and the castle of Gráinne Mhaol is a typical rural fortified house with associated folklore. A late 15th century monastic cell for two or three monks survives, complete with faded ceiling paintings.

Inspired by E E Evans's visit to the Swedish folk museum in the 1930s, the Ulster Folk Museum was finally established in 1958 to illustrate the traditions of the entire community in Northern Ireland.

Summary of recent work in Loughs Lene, Kinale, and Ennell.

The island off the Antrim coast has abundant Neo finds including roughouts from the porcellanite outcrops. Several BA cist graves produced decorated pottery and there are two LBA gold ornaments. The ?royal site of Doonmore is the only Iron Age evidence. A Viking grave and a (lost) hoard have been recorded and a couple of possible monastic sites are known. Bruce's Castle is probably of late 13th century, and Castle Hill probably had a late med tower house. Much ravaging occurred in 16th and 17th centuries; clachans and a sweat house remain for the later periods.

The 300th anniversary of the Siege of Derry was courageously marked by the City Council with a wide range of commemorative events. One such was a special exhibition at the Museum, which included a fine Bellarmine jug, a N Devon sgraffito dish of 1684, and other wares of the Siege period, excavated under very difficult conditions of modern secular conflict (gun battles, etc). The exhibition was however popular with both sections of the Derry community and has been retained for a second summer season.

Profile of the Principal Inspector of Historic Monuments at DoENI, and a note on the Northern Ireland Archaeological Survey.

On the selection of wood for magical and for practical purposes, the use of bast and resin, the need for firewood of different kinds, the practice of coppicing, and the choice of aesthetically-pleasing woods like yew. The finds from trackways and other deposits with good organic preservation are very informative about tools and treatment, and of course important for dendrochronological uses and the recovery of environmental information such as beetles. Difficulties of conservation are also explained.