County: Antrim Site name: DRUMNAHOE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Audrey Gahan, ADS
Site type: Field boundary and Pit
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 737406m, N 901279m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.840498, -5.860758
Work on a proposed IDB development beside the Millbrook Estate, Drumnahoe, Co. Antrim, by members of the DoE:EHS revealed evidence of several subsoil-cut features. A small excavation was undertaken during early 2000 to assess their archaeological importance. The features consisted of a series of small pits and a ditch. They were all situated in one part of the development area, where the ground was rising slightly above the surrounding terrain.
The ditch was found to be of post-medieval date, containing several sherds of post-medieval pottery and glass. It was c. 0.75m wide and 0.4m deep. It is possible that it represents the remains of an old field boundary.
The pits, however, were found to pre-date this activity. Sherds of prehistoric pottery, most likely of Bronze Age date, were recovered from the fills of three of the five pits excavated. On average the pits were 0.5m wide and 0.2m deep. They did not have any direct relationship with each other and did not appear to form any structure. Nothing else of archaeological significance was uncovered.
Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ
