2006:48 - 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, Antrim

An assessment was undertaken at 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, commissioned by Lidl Northern Ireland, and relates to the proposed construction of a Lidl supermarket with associated car parking. The proposed development is located to the west of Carrickfergus, over 1km from the historic core of the town. There are five known archaeological sites within a 1km radius of the proposed development, with one site located just outside the search radius. The closest archaeological site to the proposed development is an ecclesiastical site (ANT052–031), which was located to the immediate north-east. This was the Premonstratensian Abbey of Woodburn, which dated from 1326. Thirteen test-trenches were mechanically excavated across the development site to at least the depth of 1.2m. The formation level of the proposed development is 1m below ground level.
Raised beach material, which occurs along the north and north-east coastline of Northern Ireland, was uncovered in Trench 1, which was located along the northern limit of the site. The raised beach deposits were uncovered underlying carpark materials which ranged in depth from 0.6 to 1m and covered the entire site. Three concentrations of raised beach deposits were uncovered. These deposits were all found in Trench 1 underlying beach sands, all of which contained water-rolled flint, some of which had been worked.
The first deposit of raised beach material produced five pieces of worked flint, including one possible scraper. This deposit occurs at a depth of c. 1.3m below the present ground surface. The raised beach deposit directly overlay a sterile, compact sand and pebble deposit. Excavation of the trench stopped at the top of this deposit, at 1.36m below ground level. The second area of raised beach occurred at a depth of 1.28m, c. 25m from the south-western end of the trench. It produced six pieces of worked flint and one large crude scraper. The third area of raised beach occurred at a depth of 1.15m below the present ground surface and underlying beach sands.
All other trenches revealed only naturally imported beach deposits and other imported materials which produced post-medieval and modern finds. Test excavations at the site revealed no traces of burials or structural remains that might have been associated with the nearby abbey site.
Given the proximity of the site to Woodburn Abbey and the presence of raised beach deposits on the site, albeit below foundation depth, it was recommended that all groundworks for the proposed development be monitored.