2024:396 - Ballymoney Public Realm, Antrim

Licensed archaeological monitoring was undertaken between April and September 2024, in response to a condition on a planning permission granted to Antrim Coasts and Glens Council for a Public Realm Environmental Improvements Scheme at Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.

Due to a combination of previous ground disturbance and the fact that the vast majority of the works did not require deep excavations, nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered. Where works did require deeper excavations, in the replacement or insertion of new service lines, these were either within the disturbed ground or within existing pipe trenches.

Works on or near High Street revealed that the carriageway had been constructed on some 750mm deep foundations of various grades of stone and that the stone had been laid on undisturbed glacial till.

Work in the relatively more sensitive area of the northern extension of High Street, from the junction with Townhead Street, was similarly all within previously disturbed ground, with deeper excavations limited to previously dug service conduits. As a consequence no evidence for the pre-1837 houses which once crossed this street, was uncovered.

No archaeological features or deposits were identified in the course of the archaeological monitoring and no finds were recovered. The work is now complete, and no further mitigation is necessary