2007:AD1 - Sourhill Road, Ballymena, Antrim

Archaeological investigations were carried out between 30 January and 16 February 2007. The investigations took the form of topsoil-stripping across three fields. The area consisted of a subsoil of mid-orange compact sandy silt which was overlaid by topsoil measuring between 0.31m and 0.4m deep. A number of field drains were found in all three fields.
The removal of topsoil in Field 3 revealed an oval pit measuring some 2.5m east–west by 1m. The pit had steeply sloped sides along the west, north and east edges. Along the southern edge the side was gently sloped, creating a ‘lip’ to the pit, before stepping down on to the base. The base was flat and sloped gently towards the west.
The basal fill consisted of a thin layer of orange heavy sticky silty clay with frequent charcoal flecking and burnt stones. This was sealed by mid-greyish-brown silty clay, with frequent charcoal flecking and burnt stones. This was in turn overlain with a light to mid-grey heavy silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks. The upper fill consisted of dark-grey/blackish greasy silty clay with very frequent charcoal fragments and burnt stones.
The shape of the feature, the nature of its fills and its close proximity to a water source all strongly suggest that it was a trough and is now the only surviving remains of a fulacht fiadh.
Nothing else of archaeological interest was noted.