County: Down Site name: CARNREAGH, Hillsbourgh
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/03/98
Author: Simon Large, NAC
Site type: Fulacht fia and Road - road/trackway
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 725174m, N 859029m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.464308, -6.069135
Monitored topsoil-stripping exposed three areas of potential archaeological interest. Area 1 contained a number of linear features of different widths crossing and intersecting each other. The area was extremely disturbed by modern agricultural activity. Several sherds of Early Christian pottery were recovered. A former track/path, width c. 1m, also cut through Area 1. Three trenches were cut through the path; sherds of post-medieval pottery were recovered.
Area 2 was a burnt spread, a possible fulacht fiadh, c. 12m by 8m, containing numerous shattered burnt stones. A series of trenches was cut through the spread. These revealed a dish-shaped section and evidence of migration downslope of lighter charcoal material. Trenching exposed a trough, 2.6m in length and 1.2m wide, with a surviving depth of 0.3m. The trough was entirely within the burnt-spread area. The position of timbers lining the base of the trough was evident. There were two post-holes, diameter 0.56m, adjacent to the southern side of the trough. This suggested either a repair or strengthening of this side. To the south of the trough a number of Late Bronze Age pottery sherds were recovered. A partial reconstruction was possible. The pot is S-shaped in profile, and flat-bottomed with an everted rim.
Area 3 contained a number of circular features; one was a small hearth with several sherds of Early Christian pottery. A flint scraper was also recovered.
Unit 33, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast
