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Ballymena Prehistoric Enclosure is a possibly barrow monument located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site comprises three distinct earthworks contained within an enclosure and dates to the prehistoric period. It is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Division reference 16363.
The monument sits upon bedrock composed of unnamed extrusive rocks of Palaeogene age, formed from mafic lava and mafic tuff. This geological foundation, typical of the volcanic activity that shaped much of Antrim's landscape during the early Tertiary period, provided the underlying structure upon which the prehistoric occupants constructed their earthworks.
The three barrow-like features within the enclosure represent burial or ritual monuments characteristic of Bronze Age or earlier Iron Age practice in Ulster. The exact date and purpose of the site remain to be fully determined, though its position within a defined enclosure suggests it held particular significance for the prehistoric communities of the Ballymena region, possibly serving as a focal point for burial, ceremonial activity, or territorial definition within the landscape.
Prehistoric enclosure, possibly barrows (3) is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 16363. View the official record →
Ballymena Prehistoric Enclosure is a possibly barrow monument located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 16363.
Prehistoric enclosure, possibly barrows (3) is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 16363.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hillfort & ?souterrain (1.5 km), Ballymena fort. motte and bailey (3.9 km), Standing stone (4.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Prehistoric enclosure, possibly barrows (3)'s history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Prehistoric enclosure, possibly barrows (3) stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.