2002:0385 - COOLKEERAGH, Derry

As a result of the proposed building of two large warehouses on Haw Road, for the use of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, monitoring was required to supervise the stripping of topsoil from a greenfield area measuring 500m by 200m at its widest part (i.e. encompassing 2.35ha). Topsoil removal took place in July 2002. This was done with a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless, flat-bottomed bucket. The brown/grey clayey topsoil was removed and lay directly over reddish subsoil, which varied from boulder clay to a more sandy soil on the higher ground. Several features of archaeological interest were noted, and excavation was carried out in July–August 2002.

The site is 600m from the east bank of the River Foyle, close to the city of Londonderry, and therefore lies in an area that is rich with archaeology spanning from the prehistoric to the Plantation period. Evidence of settlement in this area during the Neolithic, in particular, has been uncovered; for example, Thornhill College in Ballynashallog townland, which produced a multi-phased defended settlement site, and Caw, Londonderry, where the remains of a Neolithic house were excavated.

Area 1 contained a roughly circular, fairly thin spread of burnt stones, which seemed to be either the remains of a burnt mound or material that was dragged downslope from the burnt mound found in the second area of excavation. The area had been disturbed by the insertion of modern field drains and a large test-pit before the start of work on the development site. The spread of burnt stone covered an area of c. 12m by 9m and was c. 0.2–0.3m deep. Below the spread a number of strange features were uncovered. In the northern quadrant a boat-shaped hollow of unknown use was revealed, 4m long and 2m in diameter. Finds recovered included several sherds of Neolithic pottery, found among the stone spread. Evidence of small-scale flintworking was also found, in the form of a small flint flake and a possible projectile head. No sign of a water trough was detected in this area.

Area 2 was farther uphill, close to the site boundary. It had also been disturbed, mostly by rabbit burrows. A fairly large burnt mound measuring c. 10m by 9m and 0.4–0.5m deep was revealed here. Several small fire-pits were also noted just outside the edge of the mound. Finds recovered consisted mostly of slag from the upper levels but included pottery from within the burnt material. A stone feature in the central area of the stone spread may be the remains of a stone trough.

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