Time Team digs deep in search of history
AN Ulster farm is to feature in an upcoming series of archaeological television show, Time Team.
The site, an old fort on the top of a hill 1,000 feet above sea level on the Co Antrim coast, is thought to be part of the earliest settlements in the area, possibly dating back to 5,000 BC.
Work at the site – on top of Knockdhu in Cairncastle – began on Tuesday and was completed yesterday.
The dig will feature on the next series of the Channel 4 show, fronted by Tony Robinson.
The fort is on top of a hill which crosses into two properties. One half is owned by farmer Campbell Tweed, and the other by his neighbour Tommy Stewart.
The pair were approached by the Time Team crew, who had joined up with archaeology experts from Queen’s University and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to find interesting sites in the Province.
Mr Tweed said there are a number of historical sites on his farm, with part of it the remains of a flint works and quarry.
Three sides of the hill are very steep, but one is quite flat with trenches and banks and it is this side the programme focused on looking for remnants of dwellings – particularly items which could depict the settlers’ lifestyle such as tools, utensils and jewellery.
The dig follows on from the success of works at a former Army base in Dungannon which featured on this year’s series of the show where they uncovered part of the walls of the Earl of Tyrone Hugh O’Neill’s tower house.
They also found remains from a fort built by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester, after the O’Neills’ defeat by the English in 1602.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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