County: Antrim Site name: Clare Road, Ballycastle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ANT004–020 Licence number: AE/07/152
Author: Peter Bowen, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast, BT12 5BJ.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 711294m, N 940690m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.200903, -6.251706
As part of a proposed housing development on the outskirts of Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, a programme of trial investigations was undertaken in the vicinity of a partially surviving circular enclosure (ANT004–020). This monument was identified from aerial photographs, with a subsequent site visit identifying the standing remains. The entire field in which the monument is located has been granted scheduled status. As well as the enclosure, a number of other possible features were noted on aerial photographs and were also included within the scheduled area.
Four trial-trenches were investigated on the site, the location of each having first being approved by DOE:EHS as part of the scheduled monument consent which had been obtained to facilitate the work. Each trench was positioned so that it would bisect the possible features noted on aerial photographs beyond the enclosure. All the trenches were mechanically excavated using a machine fitted with a flat toothless bucket. Undisturbed subsoil was exposed in each trench, with no archaeological deposits being found within the trenches.
