“Harnessing the Tides: the Early Medieval Tide Mills at Nendrum Monastery, Strangford Lough” is the result of major excavations sponsored by Environment and Heritage Service on the shore of Strangford Lough close to Nendrum Monastery. The excavations were directed by Thomas McErlean of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Ulster and private sector archaeologist Norman Crothers.
The excavation uncovered remains of two tide mills built first in AD 619-621 and re-built to a different design in AD 787. The sea-powered mills were built by monks to grind corn for the monastic community.
The Minister welcomed the publication of the book and the story that it tells. She said: “It gives me great pride to know that those who went before us had the knowledge and skills to design and build structures that provided economic benefit using renewable energy that did not pollute the environment then or for future generations.
“We could do well to learn from our ancestors and we are indebted to the skilful archaeologists who, in undertaking this excavation and its interpretation have deepened our understanding of the past.”
The book is published by Environment and Heritage Service and the Stationery Office in the Northern Ireland Archaeology Monograph Series and is now available in bookshops.
