Wooden Javelin from Altinure, Co. Londonderry.

Altinure is a townland near the village of Park meaning ‘the height of yew trees’.  Mr Wm Hamar discovered the wooden javelin buried at a depth of 2½ feet while digging turf. The javelin was made of yew and had a polished finish though this had been damaged when it was attempted to clean it. Its full length was unknown as the butt was not retrieved.

Interesting to note that Brehon Law Tracts relating to trees stated that the yew was one of 7 Chieftain Trees used to make ‘noble structures’ for Kings.

References

May, A. McL. (1945). Wooden Javelin from Altinure, Co. Londonderry. Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 8, 62–62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20566482

For more information on Andrew May, explore the following links:

• Andrew McLean May: Pioneer of local archaeology and horticulture

• Andrew McL May and those who knew him

Other Andrew May excavations:

• Bronze Age Burials, Knocknacart

• Sweat Houses of County Londonderry

• Rock-Hewn Souterrain, Ballintemple

• A decorated bone case from Dreenan Bog

• Some Wooden Utensils from Tyance, Moyagoney and Dreenan Bog

• Pointed Bones, Flints and Stone Discs from the Lower Bann

• Cloghnagalla Cairn

• Cornacleary Round Cairn

• A wooden javelin from Altinure

• Two Cairns at Gortacloghan

• Cremation Burials at Gortfad, Co. Londonderry

• An Urn Burial at Slaghtaverty

• Mountsandel, Lower Site

• A Fine Spot for Fishing

• Iron Age Pits, Camus Coleraine