County: Antrim Site name: Carnalbanagh West to Magheramesk (Moira Trunk Mains)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: AE/07/100
Author: Louise Devlin, Gahan & Long Ltd, 7–9 Castlereagh Street, Belfast, BT5 4NE.
Site type: Prehistoric pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 715496m, N 861298m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.486983, -6.217450
Water Service proposes to construct a water pipeline between Kilmore Park, Moira and Magheramesk Lane, Magheramesk, with a second short section between White Lane, Magheraliskmisk and the Magheraliskmisk reservoir. During the course of monitoring a number of isolated features were identified and subsequently excavated. The areas of excavation were in close proximity to each other and were located in the townland of Magheramesk.
Area 1 consisted of six pits, a spread and plough furrow. Most of the features identified contained charcoal-rich fills mixed with varying amounts of cremated bone. The most notable of these included pit [01], the basal fill of which contained a high concentration of burnt bone. Both deposits of the pit produced a number of faience and glass beads, lumps of blue glass and a small piece of metal, some of which was retrieved during soil flotation. The beads and piece of metal have been provisionally dated to either the late Iron Age or the beginning of the Early Christian period. In addition, two pits were identified as probable cremation burials. Pit [05] was stone lined, with large flat stones present on the base and medium-sized stones lining the lower sides of the cut. These stones were overlain by [35], which contained frequent charcoal flecking and large quantities of burnt bone, mixed with occasional fragments of burnt flint. The basal fill of pit [06] produced a small amount of burnt bone, along with sherds of Middle Bronze Age pottery.
Area 2 contained two pits, one of which produced a large quantity of burnt flint.
Area 3 had a single large pit that produced moderate amounts of charcoal flecks and occasional orange oxidised clay, but there was no indication of in situ burning.
Area 4 was located in the field adjacent to Areas 1–3 and consisted of three pits. One of the pits [16] produced a number of large stones and frequent charcoal flecking, while pit [17] produced a few sherds of Middle Bronze Age pottery and a flint core.
