One of Northern Ireland’s most impressive, but mysterious,
ancient monuments will shortly reveal its secrets. Environment
Minister Alex Attwood said today that work has started on trial
excavations at the Mound of Down, a monument on the edge of the
Quoile marshes on the outskirts of Downpatrick. The Mound is a
huge earthwork with a massive bank and ditch enclosing an area
of over three acres. Within the enclosure is a second U-shaped
mound around 12.5 metres high, which affords commanding views
over the surrounding countryside. Commenting on the start of the
excavation, Alex Attwood said: “The Mound of Down is one of our
most important and impressive ancient monuments yet very little
is known of its origins or use. One theory is that it was a
royal stronghold and that it was built by John de Courcy, the
Anglo-Norman knight who led the Norman invasion of Ulster, soon
after his victory in the area in 1177. I am hopeful that the
Mound will soon begin to give up its secrets and that excavation
of the site will r