Maghernaher artefacts – Stone axe

Porcellanite axe fragment – Neolithic

These items were uncovered by the McGill family in the agricultural fields surrounding their home, through years of field walking. While walking through freshly ploughed fields, a selection of stone age artefacts were found which include small flint tools from the era of Ireland’s first settlers. These Mesolithic ‘microliths’ are tiny stone tools made c.8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Later Neolithic (c.4,000-6,000 years old) stone tools including blades, scrapers, awls and other miscellaneous items are also found in the McGill collection. A fragment of a Porcellanite polished axe head was uncovered, this unique stone was traded by Neolithic peoples in North Antrim and was mined only in two locations at Tievebulliagh, Cushendall and on Rathlin island. Later artefacts include clay pipes, which show the ‘red hand of Ulster’ stamp found commonly on Ulster pipes in the 19th century.

This record was collected as part of Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust’s Uncharted Histories of the Causeway Coast Project. Please click here to learn more about this project.