Archaeologists have uncovered an unknown stone circle, which dates back at least 4,000 years to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, and was most likely used for ritual activities.
The discovery was made near the Giant’s Ring, just outside Belfast, during a community archaeology excavation, led by Brian Sloan from Queen’s University.
The site came to the team’s attention after they saw some aerial photography highlighting several cropmarks, which extended further than previously thought.
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Brian Sloan, who works in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s, explains: “In the 1990s, Queen’s archaeologist Barrie Hartwell uncovered a ‘Neolithic Temple’ at the Giant’s Ring. This included a large timber circle with an internal excarnation platform. It is believed that this was used for processing dead bodies.
“We came across some aerial photography of the area and noticed a number of cropmarks in the field, which suggested the Ballynahatty Ritual Complex extended further than we first thought.
“We decided to dig deeper and work with community volunteers and school children to try and piece together the area’s hidden history.”
The excavation, which has been running during the month of June, was organised by the Community Archaeology Programme Northern Ireland (CAPNI) and funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is still ongoing but has already revealed some very interesting findings.
Brian comments: “The field we are digging in forms part of the wider 'Ballynahatty Ritual Complex' - a collection of some 50 or more known archaeological monuments spanning the southern end of the Malone Ridge.
“There is no evidence yet that what we are excavating is associated with any burials. We have discovered that the cropmark seems to be a stone circle dating back to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. Unfortunately, this was disturbed in the 19th century when farmers in the area dismantled sites that were getting in the way of agriculture.
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“The function of stone circles remains a bit of a mystery. A great deal of effort is required to construct them, but what they were actually used for is open to debate. There is a chance that they were used for religious ceremonies, gathering at certain times of the year. Some stone circles, such as the site at Beaghmore Co Tyrone, have celestial alignments and could have been used as a Prehistoric calendar.”
Brian adds: “It has been fantastic to work alongside community volunteers and school children to try and piece together the history that lies beneath us. They have battled both heavy rain and scorching sunshine over the last few weeks and we’re delighted with what they’ve helped uncover.
“One highlight was when a pupil called Harper from Finaghy Primary School found a broken arrowhead. It’s brilliant to see the enthusiasm of these school children, who may be the next generation of archaeologists.”
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