The initial test excavation revealed several post-medieval vernacular cottages with drystone walls, clay floors and cobbled areas at the gable ends. Structure 1, catalogued as DG097-039, featured an internal division and a fine chimney embrasure, whilst Structure 2 appeared to consist of a single room; both measured approximately 15 metres by 5 metres. A third structure was discovered with no visible surface remains, but excavation revealed a gable end complete with fireplace. At the northern end of Rough Point, a larger building measuring roughly 18 metres by 12 metres was uncovered, featuring several internal walls, one of which was built upon a dump containing 17th-century pottery.

Further excavation work in 2001 focused on additional structures on the lower part of the island. Structure 3b, measuring 10 metres by 5 metres and aligned north to south, featured an eastern doorway with a porch-like feature and an intriguing network of drains in its northern half that emptied directly into the sea through a hole in the northern gable. The floor consisted of compacted gravel and clay, though notably, neither Structure 3a nor 3b contained fireplaces. The site also included areas of lazy-beds, a traditional form of ridge cultivation, and a boundary wall.

The pottery sherds recovered from the site, though numbering fewer than 200 pieces, consistently point to 17th-century occupation. This dating aligns perfectly with cartographic and documentary evidence suggesting these structures represent part of the original Plantation settlement of Killybegs, when English and Scottish settlers were encouraged to colonise Ulster. The buildings’ construction, with their drystone walls and clay floors, reflects the vernacular building traditions of the period, whilst features like the drainage system flowing directly to the sea demonstrate practical adaptations to the coastal environment.