2008:051 - A1 Scheme 1, Newry, Carnbane – Site 9, Armagh

This site was uncovered during topsoil monitoring in advance of the construction of a new bypass around Newry Co. Down/Armagh (A1 road improvement scheme, Beech Hill, Co. Down, to Cloghogue, Co. Armagh). The initial clean-up of the site took place under licence AE/08/22. The excavations took place under licence AE/08/18. The site is located in Carnbane townland, Co. Armagh, and spreads across two drumlins separated by an area of lower ground.
The key features investigated include remains of a potential prehistoric curvilinear enclosure in the southern end of the site. Several of the features clustered around this area may also be associated with the enclosure.
Pit features occur across the site. Areas of concentrated activity can be noted. Many of the pits showed evidence of burning and may be associated with food processing and domestic activities such as smoking meat and heating water. Although post- and stake-holes were encountered throughout the site, many of these were isolated, and the absence of definite larger-scale structures may indicate that these activities were largely seasonal, or that the associated settlement sites may be found outside the limit of excavation.
A large dumbbell-shaped kiln, probably for drying corn and other crops, was also encountered. Series of post- and stake-holes were found in the vicinity of the kiln. These may indicate the presence of small structures associated with the corn-drying activity, such as temporary storage.
Several linear features were also recorded running across the site; these are likely to be post-medieval in date and represent later field ditches and boundaries.