Mountdrum Time Team
13 September 2007
In early September the Fermanagh Conservation Action Team (CAT) headed into the hills above Enniskillen, not far from Topped Mountain, and promptly stepped several thousand years back in time. Conservation Volunteers are working with Fermanagh District Council (FDC) to manage a piece of farmland at Mountdrum, Lisbellaw.
At first glance there is little to see apart from neglected patches of rush infested grassland, blanket bog and dense stands of gorse. Look a bit closer and you start to see small piles of stone and curious bumps on the hillside. Look closer still, or even better, get someone with knowledge of the site, to point things out, and an amazing prehistoric ritualistic landscape slowly emerges before your eyes.
Scattered across the hillside and partially buried in the bog land are a number of stone tombs, including a possible court tomb, wedge tombs, a burnt mound, stone circles and alignments. Similar structures have been associated with civilisations that lived in the area between 3000 and 5000 years ago. The remaining disturbed features might not be as visually spectacular as Stonehenge, but the shear wealth and number on the site make it just as interesting.
In the late 1990s the 35 acre mountain farm became vacant and because of its archaeological significance was purchased by the council. Several of the archaeological features had disappeared under the gorse scrub which was creeping out onto the bog. Recognising the damage being done to the site, FDC, working with Conservation Volunteers, have started a long-term management plan to protect the site, enhance its biodiversity value and improve access and interpretation of the site.
One of the first tasks was to cut back about 5 acres of scrub and uncover the main features of the site. It was a difficult task, made harder by the strict work method restrictions required to protect the archaeology and the sensitive bog. Individual team members were walking up to 10 miles a day removing cut scrub from the hillside. Several weeks later we are still removing thorns and spiders from fingers and hair! After a week of cutting gorse and brambles the stone monuments were once again visible. Several hidden features were revealed by the CAT team during the cutting operations and it is likely that there are more waiting to be found under the remaining scrub.
The team also sighted an amazing array of insect and bird life on the blanket bog, the highlights of which were the sighting of a Hen Harrier and an Irish Hare.
The week ended with the site being opened up to the public as part of the European Heritage Weekend when well attended guided tours of the site. There is still much to be done but it has been a good start to a fascinating project.
Further information from M.Lawson@btcv.org.uk or martina.magee@fermanagh.gov.uk
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| Conservation Action Teams |
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| Fermanagh District Council |