1992:004 - BALLYREA, Armagh

A small-scale rescue excavation was carried out at this site in advance of the construction of a staff car park and service entrance for the Navan Interpretative Centre. Metal detecting of the area in question was carried out under the supervision of Mr C. Bourke of the Ulster Museum. Nothing of any note was discovered during this exercise.

Following the removal of the topsoil by mechanical excavator, the entire area was examined to check for any traces of archaeological activity. This excavation revealed that the main feature was a ditch with a maximum width of 3m and a maximum depth of 1m. It was not an enclosing ditch of a rath but rather a curvilinear, possibly a boundary, ditch but still dating to the Early Christian period as evidenced by the discovery of souterrain ware in its upper fill (a charcoal sample from the lower fill was dated to the 8th century by radiocarbon dating). Cut into subsoil on the north side and partially into the upper fill of the ditch was a single extended inhumation burial of a child of approximately 10 years of age. It was aligned east-west and contained no grave goods. Radiocarbon dating dated this burial to the late 16th/early 17th century. Several gullies of varying depth and width were also discovered the nature of which is difficult to interpret, but some would appear to be drainage gullies while others seem to be the result of agricultural activity.

Finds recovered were mainly sherds of everted rim ware mostly in situ but some had been disturbed as a result of later agricultural activity. Several sherds of souterrain ware, slag, and residual flint flakes were also recovered. One fragment of a lignite bracelet, unfortunately unstratified, was recovered.

13 Christine Gardens, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.