17 June 2011

'Lost City' Of Dunluce Revealed

It may not be the Lost City of Atlantis, but there's news today of the uncovering of the Lost Town of Dunluce.

The Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood has unveiled the significant findings of the present major archaeological dig in the Co Antrim historic site.

Dunluce was once a significant town built beside the historic and iconic Dunluce Castle (pictured) in 1608, around the time of the Ulster Plantation.

However, The Troubles of the time saw it razed to the ground - in the Irish rebellion in 1641 - and abandoned.

However, the architecture of the day is intact, because it was abandoned - and it has remained a perfectly preserved site.

According to the Department of Environment, 95% of the town remains to be discovered.

The present dig, which is unveiling fascinating history day by day includes the remains from several stone and wooden homes; a fully preserved roadway; jewellery and pottery.

In fact, aerial shots also reveal a large number of footprints, which will help ascertain the size of the town.

SDLP Minister Alex Attwood said: "The history attached to this dig is overwhelming. Here we have a very significant town in Ulster, emerging at the time of the Ulster plantation in the early 1600s, then attacked and abandoned in 1641.

"Yet only now are we discovering what it was like to live in the lost town of Dunluce all those years ago," he enthused.

"What is more, it is an archaeologist’s dream, given how well it has been preserved.

"I am fascinated by the homes, the streetscape and trying to imagine just what it was like living here.

"I would encourage anyone with an interest in history to come along and visit the site."

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is working in partnership with the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast, to carry out the archaeological excavation on land adjacent to Dunluce Castle.

The excavation is taking place up to 1 July and visitors to the Castle will have the opportunity to talk to the archaeologists, learn about what they are finding and hopefully see some more of the artefacts from the 17th century village.

(BMcC/GK)