Archaeology was the theme of the February meeting of Bangor Historical Society. Sinead McCartan is Head of Collections Research and Interpretation at National Museums Northern Ireland. Her presentation was called Belfast Before Belfast: The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Lagan Valley. She explained that this talk arose from work carried out during the closure of the Ulster Museum. An outreach programme was undertaken and this included a series of talks at the Linen Hall Library on aspects of Belfast’s past.

Written history in Ireland began with the introduction of Christianity. Before that time information was handed down using oral tradition. Archaeologists have used the evidence of stray finds and excavations to piece together the prehistory of the Lagan Valley. The area would have been very attractive to settlers: the fresh water of the river, the low-lying areas close by and the hills beyond. A Google map showed the area. On the western side of the valley lay the steeper hills which were later to provide the fast-flowing streams needed by the linen industry. On the east the land rose more gradually to form the Castlereagh Hills. We were shown several views across the city to the hills on both sides.

The speaker also told us about several other important geographical features of the area. The main tributaries of the Lagan in the Belfast area are the Connswater on the east of the city and the Blackstaff, Farset and Milewater on the west. A picture of High Street illustrated the fact that the bend in the street was due to the course of the River Farset which flows underneath. The ground rises from the centre of the city to form the Malone Ridge, an area of dry sandy soil. This has been a popular area for settlement since prehistoric times.

20,000 years ago the ice age occurred. It was not one single event, but a series of times of intense cold followed by warmer periods. Ice covered the Lagan valley to a depth of over 800 metres, but by 15,000 years ago it had largely gone. The ice had scoured the landscape of vegetation. As the land warmed up this began to return. At first it would have been trees such as pine, then alder and willow appeared and, as the temperature rose further, elm and oak started to grow. At this time Ireland was still connected to mainland Britain and then to Europe. Animals began to arrive. The first ones included reindeer and the great Irish elk, which liked the tundra conditions. The elk had antlers up to 2 metres in width and sets have been found in the Belfast area: in the basement of a tobacconist’s shop in High Street and in the Milewater Dock.

The next period discussed was between 10,800 and 10,000 years ago. During this time there was a cold snap when the ice sheet advanced once more. The Lagan valley escaped this, but some geologists have suggested that ice blocked the Lagan and a lake was formed. Water then possibly flowed out through the Dundonald gap towards Comber and Newtownards. The temperature then began to rise again and trees spread until the country had much more woodland than today. Forest animals thrived and finally man arrived.

The period when people came to Ireland was about 8,000 BC and is known as the Mesolithic or middle stone age. By 10,000 years ago Ireland was an island. There is no evidence of a land bridge and so these first people must have arrived by boat. They lived by hunting and gathering their food and had neither pottery nor metal. One of the best pieces of evidence for their existence in the Lagan valley was material found near the Ormeau Bridge in the nineteenth century. This collection included stone tools made from flint. The characteristic tool of this period was the microlith. Resin was used to fix the small pieces of flint into wood to make knives. The material from the Ormeau Bridge area was similar to that found at Mount Sandel, near Coleraine, the earliest habitation site in the north of Ireland. This site shows that the Mesolithic people lived in circular huts up to six foot in diameter. A similar hut was recreated in the Ulster History Park at Tyrone. It was made of branches and skins. We were then shown pictures of flints which had been found at Sydenham, Squire’s Hill and other sites. Later people started using larger tools known as Bann flakes.

The Neolithic or new stone age period stretched from 4,500 BC to 2,500 BC and this was when farming arrived in Ireland. It is not certain how it came. It may have been brought by a new group of people or the local people may have heard about it or it could have been a combination of both factors. Farming radically changed the people’s way of life as it was now necessary to stay in the one place. Houses became larger and monuments such as megalithic tombs were created. Woodland was cut down with stone axes. Various pieces of evidence from this period have been found in the Lagan valley. The most famous of these is the Malone Hoard, a group of 19 stone axes found about the site of Danesfort House, once the home of the Barbour family. These axes were probably used as symbols of power and wealth, rather than as tools. They were made of porcellanite. In Ireland this stone is only found in two places: on Rathlin Island and at Tievebulliagh in east Antrim. Axes from the latter source have been found in many places throughout the British Isles from Shetland in the north to Cornwall in the south. The most famous site of the period in the Lagan valley is at the Giant’s Ring where there is a Neolithic tomb. A Bronze Age bank surrounds it.

The Bronze Age period stretched from 2,500 to 300 BC. Knowledge of metal working probably came to Ireland with specialized metal workers. Copper was the first metal to be used and then tin was added to make bronze. Gold was also used. Society began to divide into the haves and have-nots. The period also saw the rise of the custom of individual graves and burial with personal ornaments. Flint was still used and we were shown pictures of barbed and tanged arrowheads from Divis Mountain. Pottery was now made and a small vessel with cremated remains was found at Ballyhanwood. Unfortunately some objects which were found in the past have now disappeared and exist only as drawings. Bronze Age objects which we can still see include a halberd from Carnmoney and a flat axe from Cavehill. Weapons and tools were becoming more sophisticated and swords have been found in the Antrim Road area.

The climate began to get wetter and peat bogs began to develop in the lower lying areas. The population was increasing and this led to a rise in stress. Large numbers of weapons were produced. Water was of great importance in prehistory and large quantities of metal work were deposited in watery areas as offerings to the gods. Trackways were made. There is evidence of these in areas such as County Longford and they may have existed across some parts of the bog meadows. Gold objects have been found in the Belfast area, although the precise location is not always known. The finds include sleeve fasteners and bracelets. Monuments such as standing stones were erected and traces of Bronze Age round houses have been found.

The period from 300 BC to 400 AD is known as the Iron Age. Little evidence from this period survives in Ireland, as iron objects corrode. Belfast Lough appears on Ptolemy’s map as the estuary of the Logia. There are Iron Age associations with the Cavehill area such as McArt’s fort and a crannog in what is now the zoo. Miss McCartan’s talk was very interesting and well illustrated. Even those with little knowledge of archaeology enjoyed it very much.

The chairman, Mr. Bob McKinley, paid tribute to Mr. Peter Goodrum who had died recently. Mr. Goodrum had been a member of the society for many years. In particular the society much appreciated his work as Honorary Auditor. Mr. McKinley conveyed the society’s sympathy to his family.

The next meeting of the society is due to be held at 8pm on 11th March in the Good Templar Hall on Hamilton Road, Bangor. Dr. Steve Flanders has already given a fascinating talk to the society on John de Courcy. This time his subject is much nearer in time and place – Bangor and back for a Bob. A look back at the Belfast and County Down Railway. Visitors are very welcome to join members at what should be a very interesting evening.

Bangor Historical Society – for Spectator 4th March 2010

Archaeology was the theme of the February meeting of Bangor Historical Society. Sinead McCartan is Head of Collections Research and Interpretation at National Museums Northern Ireland. Her presentation was called Belfast Before Belfast The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Lagan Valley. She explained that this talk arose from work carried out during the closure of the Ulster Museum. An outreach programme was undertaken and this included a series of talks at the Linen Hall Library on aspects of Belfast’s past.

Written history in Ireland began with the introduction of Christianity. Before that time information was handed down using oral tradition. Archaeologists have used the evidence of stray finds and excavations to piece together the prehistory of the Lagan Valley. The area would have been very attractive to settlers: the fresh water of the river, the low-lying areas close by and the hills beyond. A Google map showed the area. On the western side of the valley lay the steeper hills which were later to provide the fast-flowing streams needed by the linen industry. On the east the land rose more gradually to form the Castlereagh Hills. We were shown several views across the city to the hills on both sides.

The speaker also told us about several other important geographical features of the area. The main tributaries of the Lagan in the Belfast area are the Connswater on the east of the city and the Blackstaff, Farset and Milewater on the west. A picture of High Street illustrated the fact that the bend in the street was due to the course of the River Farset which flows underneath. The ground rises from the centre of the city to form the Malone Ridge, an area of dry sandy soil. This has been a popular area for settlement since prehistoric times.

20,000 years ago the ice age occurred. It was not one single event, but a series of times of intense cold followed by warmer periods. Ice covered the Lagan valley to a depth of over 800 metres, but by 15,000 years ago it had largely gone. The ice had scoured the landscape of vegetation. As the land warmed up this began to return. At first it would have been trees such as pine, then alder and willow appeared and, as the temperature rose further, elm and oak started to grow. At this time Ireland was still connected to mainland Britain and then to Europe. Animals began to arrive. The first ones included reindeer and the great Irish elk, which liked the tundra conditions. The elk had antlers up to 2 metres in width and sets have been found in the Belfast area: in the basement of a tobacconist’s shop in High Street and in the Milewater Dock.

The next period discussed was between 10,800 and 10,000 years ago. During this time there was a cold snap when the ice sheet advanced once more. The Lagan valley escaped this, but some geologists have suggested that ice blocked the Lagan and a lake was formed. Water then possibly flowed out through the Dundonald gap towards Comber and Newtownards. The temperature then began to rise again and trees spread until the country had much more woodland than today. Forest animals thrived and finally man arrived.

The period when people came to Ireland was about 8,000 BC and is known as the Mesolithic or middle stone age. By 10,000 years ago Ireland was an island. There is no evidence of a land bridge and so these first people must have arrived by boat. They lived by hunting and gathering their food and had neither pottery nor metal. One of the best pieces of evidence for their existence in the Lagan valley was material found near the Ormeau Bridge in the nineteenth century. This collection included stone tools made from flint. The characteristic tool of this period was the microlith. Resin was used to fix the small pieces of flint into wood to make knives. The material from the Ormeau Bridge area was similar to that found at Mount Sandel, near Coleraine, the earliest habitation site in the north of Ireland. This site shows that the Mesolithic people lived in circular huts up to six foot in diameter. A similar hut was recreated in the Ulster History Park at Tyrone. It was made of branches and skins. We were then shown pictures of flints which had been found at Sydenham, Squire’s Hill and other sites. Later people started using larger tools known as Bann flakes.

The Neolithic or new stone age period stretched from 4,500 BC to 2,500 BC and this was when farming arrived in Ireland. It is not certain how it came. It may have been brought by a new group of people or the local people may have heard about it or it could have been a combination of both factors. Farming radically changed the people’s way of life as it was now necessary to stay in the one place. Houses became larger and monuments such as megalithic tombs were created. Woodland was cut down with stone axes. Various pieces of evidence from this period have been found in the Lagan valley. The most famous of these is the Malone Hoard, a group of 19 stone axes found about the site of Danesfort House, once the home of the Barbour family. These axes were probably used as symbols of power and wealth, rather than as tools. They were made of porcellanite. In Ireland this stone is only found in two places: on Rathlin Island and at Tievebulliagh in east Antrim. Axes from the latter source have been found in many places throughout the British Isles from Shetland in the north to Cornwall in the south. The most famous site of the period in the Lagan valley is at the Giant’s Ring where there is a Neolithic tomb. A Bronze Age bank surrounds it.

The Bronze Age period stretched from 2,500 to 300 BC. Knowledge of metal working probably came to Ireland with specialized metal workers. Copper was the first metal to be used and then tin was added to make bronze. Gold was also used. Society began to divide into the haves and have-nots. The period also saw the rise of the custom of individual graves and burial with personal ornaments. Flint was still used and we were shown pictures of barbed and tanged arrowheads from Divis Mountain. Pottery was now made and a small vessel with cremated remains was found at Ballyhanwood. Unfortunately some objects which were found in the past have now disappeared and exist only as drawings. Bronze Age objects which we can still see include a halberd from Carnmoney and a flat axe from Cavehill. Weapons and tools were becoming more sophisticated and swords have been found in the Antrim Road area.

The climate began to get wetter and peat bogs began to develop in the lower lying areas. The population was increasing and this led to a rise in stress. Large numbers of weapons were produced. Water was of great importance in prehistory and large quantities of metal work were deposited in watery areas as offerings to the gods. Trackways were made. There is evidence of these in areas such as County Longford and they may have existed across some parts of the bog meadows. Gold objects have been found in the Belfast area, although the precise location is not always known. The finds include sleeve fasteners and bracelets. Monuments such as standing stones were erected and traces of Bronze Age round houses have been found.

The period from 300 BC to 400 AD is known as the Iron Age. Little evidence from this period survives in Ireland, as iron objects corrode. Belfast Lough appears on Ptolemy’s map as the estuary of the Logia. There are Iron Age associations with the Cavehill area such as McArt’s fort and a crannog in what is now the zoo. Miss McCartan’s talk was very interesting and well illustrated. Even those with little knowledge of archaeology enjoyed it very much.

The chairman, Mr. Bob McKinley, paid tribute to Mr. Peter Goodrum who had died recently. Mr. Goodrum had been a member of the society for many years. In particular the society much appreciated his work as Honorary Auditor. Mr. McKinley conveyed the society’s sympathy to his family.