County: Antrim Site name: HOLESTONE (3)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/06/163
Author: Norman Crothers, for ADS Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 724625m, N 889582m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.738811, -6.064620
What initially appeared to be a simple spread of occupation material and gully section proved, on hand clearance and excavation, to be a complex multi-phase prehistoric site. Post-excavation analysis of the extensive archive from this site is ongoing and it is not possible to give more than a brief outline of the nature and extent of the site. The archaeological remains, which occupied an area that measured 26m north–south by 24m, were situated on a level terrace at the east side of a glacial ridge aligned south-west/north-east overlooking lower ground to the east through south to south-west. The site consisted of numerous pits, post-holes and stake-holes, four gullies, a hearth and stake-hole complex, and an extensive metalled surface. Initial analysis of the archive would indicate that there were at least three phases of occupation, represented by one rectangular structure with associated pits of probable Neolithic date, a later possible circular structure and pits, and the hearth and stake-hole complex, which may have been associated with the extensive metalled surface.
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