This Saturday (23 June), families are being invited to participate in an archaeological dig at Brockagh with Lough Neagh Partnership and Queen’s University Belfast.
The excavation and investigation is centred around exploring the lost late-Elizabethan fort that was famously illustrated by the English cartographer Richard Bartlett in 1602.
Located close to Mountjoy Castle the dig will be open to the public on Saturday from 11am until 4pm and anyone over the age of eight can take part in this historic event which the organisers think may provide something promising in the search for the star shaped fort.
Liam Campbell of Lough Neagh Partnership said: “We are encouraging anyone interested in heritage and culture to come along on Saturday and join us for this family day out with a difference, to take part in a unique archaeological dig with the prospect of helping us uncover something very special for the community.
“Staff and students from the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork at Queen’s University have been undertaking geophysical surveys over the past few months at Brockagh to locate the ‘other’ Mountjoy Fort on the old shoreline below St Brigid’s School. It is an exciting find of the Lost Settlement of Mountjoy and to be involved in helping uncover the fort is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone who wishes to get involved.”
If you are interested in participating in this exciting project, arrive at the site on Saturday 23rd from 11am and you are advised to bring wellies, boots or old clothes as you will definitely get dirty and you may get wet! The site is located at Maye’s field, opposite the road to St Brigid’s School and Mountjoy Fort. Parking is available.
If you require further information, please contact Aaron Swann at Lough Neagh Partnership on tel 028 7941 7941 or email aaronswann@discoverloughneagh.com.
This is a project of Lough Neagh Partnership under the Landscape partnership programme funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.
www.discoverloughneagh.com, www.facebook.com/loughneaghlandscapepartnership, www.twitter.com/loveloughneagh.