2002:0436 - BALLYMAGLAFF AND GILNAHIRK, Down

Castlereagh Borough Council proposed a nine-hole extension to Gilnahirk golf-course and the provision of a new access road from Upper Braniel Road. The proposed development site lies to the east of Gilnahirk golf-course, on either side of Mann’s Road in the townlands of Gilnahirk and Ballymaglaff, Co. Down. Monitoring of topsoil removal was carried out in June 2002. An area of 17ha was stripped over eight fields using a combination of bulldozers and mechanical diggers. Before the removal of the topsoil, the fields had been ploughed to enable the bulldozers to strip more efficiently. Two areas, Area 1 on the east side of Mann’s Road and Area 2 on its west side, were to be stripped.

Area 1, comprising five fields, measured c. 485m by 380m. The mid-brown, clayey loam topsoil, c. 0.3m deep, was removed directly onto the red clay subsoil. Apart from modern field drains, no archaeological features were revealed. A few stray flints were recovered, but the remaining artefacts were pottery, slate, brick and clay pipe of 19th- and 20th-century date.

Area 2, comprising three fields, measured c. 250m by 175m. The topsoil, c. 0.2m deep on this side of Mann’s Road, was again removed mostly down to the surface of the subsoil. The only feature uncovered was a large area of charcoal beside an old watercourse. This spread of burnt-mound material measured c. 20m by 16m. A circular ring-ditch, 16m in diameter, was exposed on the northern side of the burnt-mound material. No finds were recovered.

After discussion, it was agreed to cover the entire site with a geotextile membrane and a layer of sand. The green that was to be built over this area has now been moved to the east, leaving the archaeological remains intact.

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