Fermanagh Excavation Shows Medieval Irish Life

The Northern Irish public have been invited to catch a glimpse of Medieval Ireland this Saturday in Fermanagh.

The first ever substantial excavation of a crannog (an artificial island in a lake) in Northern Ireland has been undertaken in County Fermanagh.

It has revealed an array of artefacts which show a glimpse of life in Ireland from the 17th Century as far back as the 9th Century AD.

Some of the finds include a wooden bowl that has a cross carved into its base, parts of wooden vessels with interlace decoration and combs made from antler and bone.

Diggers have also found what is believed to be the largest collection of pottery from a crannog in Northern Ireland along with ornaments of iron, bronze and bone.

Wooden gaming "chess like" pieces have also been found along with wooden drinking cups and the timber foundations of dozens of houses.

Parts of at least two different log boats have also been unearthed as well as a wooden oar which is thought to be several centuries older than the boats.

Environment Minister Attwood today visited the crannog to view the artefacts and to announce the Drumclay Crannog Open Day on 1 December.

He said: "On my two visits to date, I have found the site, the dig, and the archaeology beyond my imagination, enormously exciting and changing my view of our history and Irish life. This is the first substantial, scientific excavation of a crannog in Northern Ireland. What has been found has the potential not only to be internationally important but ultimately to lead to a reassessment of life in Ulster in early Christian and medieval times.

"It was important therefore that we took both time and the effort to unearth this rich seam of history. That is why in August I placed an “exclusion zone” around the site and ensured that the time was given to allow archaeological excavation to proceed."

(IT/GK)