© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Rath and souterrain at Ballymena is an early Christian ringfort with an underground stone-built passage chamber. The site lies on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks—mafic lavas and tuffs formed during intense volcanic activity in the early Tertiary period. This challenging geology would have required considerable effort to excavate and construct the souterrain, which was typically used for storage, refuge or ritual purposes in early medieval Ulster.
Raths were domestic and defensive settlements of the Irish landed classes, characterised by their distinctive circular earthen rampart. This example at Ballymena represents the material expression of early Christian society in north Antrim, occupied during a period when ringforts served as the homes of farmers and minor lords. The integration of a souterrain indicates the site's importance and the investment made in its construction.
The monument is now protected by the Historic Environment Division as a scheduled ancient monument, ensuring its preservation for future study. Such sites are crucial evidence for understanding settlement patterns, social hierarchy and daily life in early medieval northern Ireland, offering insights into the archaeological landscape that shaped this region between the fifth and twelfth centuries.
Rath and souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2639. View the official record →
Rath and souterrain at Ballymena is an early Christian ringfort with an underground stone-built passage chamber. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2639.
Rath and souterrain dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath & souterrain. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Rath and souterrain 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 2639.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Kells abbey, de diserto forte conneri, deserto corie, templemoyle, desert of connor, abbey of kellis, ecclesia beatae mariae de desarto. augustinian abbey (2.3 km), See of dal riata, st. saviour's. monastery, church, cathedral, graveyard & cross (2.8 km), Trench. revetted mound & boundary ditch (3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Rath and souterrain'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.
Rath and souterrain stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.