Archaelogists unearth ancient shrine

Brian Williams with the bell shrine

A 12th century relic discovered in Northern Ireland has been described by a leading archaeologist as the "find of his life".

Brian Williams, joint excavation director of the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), found the rare bronze bell shrine during a dig near Ballycastle, County Antrim.

"I was digging in a pit and the soil just fell away from it and I could see the side of it and realised immediately it was going to be a very important piece.

"Then I removed it and I just felt it was the find of my life.

"I realised it was a prize moment, finding something not only of exceptional archaeological importance but also something that was holy and venerated," he said.

Warriors

The team of archaeologists were excavating an elevated, fortified medieval site at Drumadoon when Mr Williams came across the shrine.

He said the site was the home of high-born Celtic warriors who would have held on to the relic for safe keeping for a nearby church.

Originally, the shrine, which stands about ten inches high and six inches wide, was designed to hold a sacred bell, dedicated to a local saint, along with a cross that would have been fixed to the back of the shrine, though both are now missing.

Fixed to the front panel of the relic is a cast figure of the crucified Christ with his head leaning to the side, with eyes made from pale glass beads.

Because these objects were so valuable, they were often kept with strong warriors called Hereditary Keepers Archaelogist Brian Williams

The relic was made locally in a furnace, probably using clay moulds, which would have been smashed upon casting.

Mr Williams said: "It was a secular site and we didn't expect to find any ecclesiastical remains.

"But because these objects were so valuable, they were often kept with strong warriors called Hereditary Keepers."

The bronze case, which has been dated at 1180, was remarkably well preserved and even had remnants of the string used by the monks to carry it.

After lying undiscovered for more than 800 years, it was unearthed at the end of June and is now regarded as one of most exciting finds in Ireland in recent years.

Normans

"It was made at a very key moment in Irish history when the Normans had just arrived in Ulster.

"Whoever our warriors were, they were having to come to terms with a lot of change," Mr Williams said.

The revered object had been buried about 1250.

"It was then our site was abandoned, we don't know why, probably because of the new political chaos.

"They left the shrine and the secret remained for more than 800 years," he added.

The object, currently being held at EHS headquarters in Belfast, will be taken to the Ulster Museum for further examination.

Although it is the property of the landowner, it is hoped it will go on permanent display as a national treasure.