2005:040 - MALLUSK: Hightown Road, Antrim

Archaeological investigations were carried out between March and May 2005 at a large-scale housing development located between the Hightown Road and Hydepark Road, along the southern outskirts of Mallusk, Co. Antrim, to the south-west of Glengormley. The archaeology excavated in this phase of the development indicated prehistoric activity of possibly small-scale domestic as well as ritual activity. Two areas of archaeological remains were uncovered during topsoil-stripping for the current phase (4A) of the ongoing housing development at Hightown Road. A total of seven archaeological deposits/features were uncovered from both fields—Area 1 and Area 2.

The archaeological features within Area 1 (the northernmost field) consisted of three small pits, none of which produced any datable finds. Area 2 contained the main area of archaeological activity, located within the vicinity of SMR 56:13, a possible Bronze Age barrow situated within the development site. To the west and south-west of the mound were a large pit, a smaller adjacent pit and a charcoal spread, none of which directly produced any datable finds. The badly truncated remains of a cremation burial were also uncovered close to the edge of the mound.

The larger subcircular pit within Area 2 measured 2.4m north–south by 2.7m and 0.44m in depth. The basal fill comprised compact mid-bluish-grey clayey sand with frequent charcoal flecks and decayed stone fragments, with also occasional burnt angular stone measuring up to 0.15m in size. This was located below a thin layer (20–80mm deep) of compact light-orangish-yellow sand with occasional small angular stones and decayed stone fragments and occasional small lumps of charcoal. Above this was tenacious dark-grey sandy clay with frequent charcoal flecks, angular stone and burnt stone inclusions (measuring 0.1m on average). The upper fill comprised fairly compact dark-black loamy clay with frequent angular stones and also burnt stone (measuring 0.1m in size on average). Some flint flakes and fragments were found during excavation of the pit, but none of these were diagnostic.

Along the southern edge of the larger pit, and apparently contemporary with it, was a smaller pit, oval in plan, measuring 1.1m by 1.08m and 0.24m in depth, with fairly steep sides and slightly rounded base. The basal fill comprised compact mid-grey sandy clay with occasional small burnt angular stones. Above this was compact dark-grey sandy clay with frequent angular stones and also occasional burnt stone (measuring on average 0.1m in size). There were no finds in the pit; however, in the basal topsoil directly above a flint scraper was recovered.

Situated to the south-west of the mound close to the southern limit of topsoil-stripping, a large irregular shallow spread was uncovered. This measured 9m by 5m and between 0.05 and 0.2m in thickness. It consisted of compact dark-black sandy clay containing frequent angular burnt stones measuring between 0.05m and 0.15m in size. This spread lay directly above subsoil and was cut by two stone-filled field drains which ran north to south and north-west to south-east, each for a distance of c. 20m. No finds were retrieved from this spread.

The fourth feature uncovered in Area 2 was the remains of a cremation burial. It was located c. 4.5m from the western edge of the standing monument. The vessel had been placed in an upturned position and packed tightly into a subsoil-cut pit but unfortunately was subsequently badly damaged and ploughed out (the topsoil in this particular area measured only 0.26m in depth), leaving only the somewhat displaced remains of the upturned rim.

Despite the disturbance of the burial, much of the cremation material was still intact within the vessel and, given the fragility of the pot, had to be removed separately. The cremation content was compact ash, light-greyish in colour with white cremated bone fragments throughout. The vessel measured 0.33m in diameter and displayed a large inturned horizontal cordon located 52mm below the rim. A small hole measuring 11mm in diameter was also noted, which had been pierced through the pot 22mm below the rim. The rim itself measured 14mm in thickness and was flattened along the top edge. The cremation burial provides good evidence to support the interpretation of the mound as a Bronze Age barrow, as it had not previously undergone any archaeological investigation.

The removal of topsoil did produce a number of worked flint artefacts and fragments of burnt flint, mixed also with occasional sherds of 19th/20th-century pottery. Among the entire assemblage were at least ten scrapers, a possible blade and a number of flint flakes, all of which can be broadly identified as prehistoric. The majority of worked flint came from within the topsoil of Area 2. A total of 74 fragments of burnt flint were collected across the two fields, with however a higher concentration on the higher ground, containing the archaeological monument in Area 2.

It is likely that the features exposed in Area 1 and 2 are contemporary with the mound and the cremation burial, indicating Bronze Age activity. However, this is purely speculative, as no analysis has been carried out to date on any samples taken from the archaeological deposits.

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