2003:0020 - LISNALINCHY, Antrim

The site was uncovered during monitored topsoil-stripping for the creation of a dual carriageway on a c. 2.7km stretch of the A8 Belfast to Larne Road between the Doagh Road and Coleman’s Corner. It took the form of a circular ring-ditch and was located at the top of a small rise on the western side of the road c. 30m to the south of the junction of the Old Belfast Road and the Larne–Belfast Road (A8). The feature was approximately 15–17m in diameter and appears to run off from the area of the new road-take to the west and under the road wall to the east.

The cut width on initial uncovering was about 0.3m and contained a dark-brown fill with stones. On removal of the wall, the ditch was found to continue below it. The outer ditch was found to have been recut on the eastern side. The ditch was up to 1m in width and 0.5m in depth and disappeared in its southern quadrant. This eastern recut extended the original ditch to the south by some 5m. The southern quadrant, where the ditch disappeared, had a shallow ditch remnant on the western side suggesting an entrance of about 3m in width. Linear features and post-holes outside this to the south also suggest some form of everted entrance feature.

Within the outer boundary ditch were the remains of a post-hole-built circular house. This had central post-holes and evidence for an eaves drip gully around its western edge. The house wall was defined by a series of post-holes at regular intervals along a shallow slot. This may have been the base of a rotted wicker wall. Artefacts recovered included coarse pottery and some struck flint. The flint was recovered from the surface so was not a secure context. The pottery appeared to be souterrain ware. Analysis is ongoing.

Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DY