2002:0007 - BALNAMORE AND BENDOORAGH, Ballymoney, Antrim

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping was carried out as part of the Ballymoney Wastewater Treatment Works in Bendooragh, Balnamore, Drumahiskey and Drumaheglis, Co. Antrim. Four areas of archaeological significance were investigated. Along the Balnamore line, two individual features were identified some distance apart. One, a circular pit c. 0.65m in diameter and c. 0.6m deep, was clay lined and filled with a heavily charcoal-flecked loamy soil. One struck flint was recovered from this fill. The second was an irregular, short, linear feature c. 2m by 0.75m by c. 0.35m deep. It was filled with heavily charcoal-flecked soil and heat-shattered stone.

Along the Bendooragh line, two areas of burnt-mound material were uncovered c. 75m apart. The smaller one measured 3.7m in diameter by c. 0.3m deep and was filled with a mix of burnt-mound material and redeposited subsoil overlying water-rolled, unburnt boulders The feature was beside a field boundary and has been interpreted as being a filled root bowl. The second site was an area of heavily charcoal-flecked greasy clay with a large amount of heat-shattered stone throughout, which extended in a linear fashion for over 20m, diagonally across the pipeline corridor and into the baulks on either side. This has been interpreted as burnt-mound material. On excavation it was discovered that very little of the burnt-mound material had remained in situ. Most of the material uncovered had been used, along with subsoil, to fill in an old stream during the diversion of the Bendooragh Burn. Several sections were excavated through the bed of the stream and recorded. The in situ burnt-mound material was removed; however, it directly overlay subsoil, and no features were uncovered.

Monitoring along the scheme is continuing.

Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, Belfast BT12 5BJ