2008:052 - A1 Scheme 1, Newry, Carnbane – Site 15, Armagh

A possible multi-functional site of late prehistoric date, Site 15 was located within the townland of Carnbane, Co. Armagh, and lay between Chainage 4730 and 4820. Located on a low hill in an area of drumlins, the site extended for c. 120m downslope in a southerly direction. The underlying geology of the site was boulder clay and the scheme crossed a band of alluvium associated with the Newry River.
The pattern of cultural history for the region shows there has been intensive occupation right through from early times, with known archaeological sites ranging from the Neolithic to mills which remained in use until only 100 years ago. The desktop assessment undertaken by Scott Wilson Scotland Ltd/Fergus McIlveen LLP revealed that the proposed development would impact directly on four archaeological sites. Whilst none of these lie within this area, the site of a possible barrow (ARM022–016) situated to the immediate west of the A27 Tandragee Road, near its northern junction with the Carnbane Road, did show up during the study for that area. Originally thought to be a possible barrow by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, it was later decided that it was probably not an antiquity. Field inspection revealed a bumpy field but no definite evidence of any barrow, but, as this possible site would be lost as a result of the proposed road scheme, works in this area were monitored under the programme of topsoil-stripping.
Site 15 was identified by Peter Bowen during the initial phase of topsoil-stripping in November 2007 (Excavations 2007, No. 69, AE/07/172). Three pits and one post-hole were identified at the southern extent of the site a minimum of 14m south-east of the later labelled Area B. The site was divided into two areas during the phase of excavation works. Area A represented the northern cluster of archaeological activity and Area B the southern cluster of activity.
Areas A and B were further subdivided into four groups in total, based on their associations and proximity to other features, starting at the southern extent of the site and moving northwards, and they were excavated under licence AE/08/07.
Area B was located in the southern portion of the site on the descending slope of the low hill and the features excavated there possibly represent the earliest phase of activity. Group A consisted of one stake-hole, fourteen pits, one hearth pit and five post-holes. Group B contained five pits separated from Group A by a north-east/south-west-orientated ditch to the south.
The pits and post-holes did not form a discernible pattern, either collectively or in smaller groupings, to indicate the presence of a structure. They were widely spaced, thus adding to the belief that these features were not part of the foundations of a structure, although it is a possibility that later agricultural and drainage activity removed other pits and post-hole features, which may have formed structural patterns with the surviving examples.
Area A was located in the northern portion of the site. Group C was located at the southern extent of Area A and consisted of one pit and four grave-cut-shaped pits loosely distributed along the descending slope from the top of the low hill towards the southern extent of Area A. Group D represented the archaeological activity at the northern extent of the site and comprised nine grave-cut-shaped pits, one cremation pit and one post-hole, which were tightly clustered together. The cremation pit is of local importance, as no similar pit cremations were identified during the EIA in this part of Armagh.
This area was dominated by the north-east/south-west-orientated grave-cut-shaped pits, which were loosely spaced out in Group C and tightly clustered in Group D. These pits ranged in size from a maximum length of 2.4m to a minimum of 1.55m and a maximum width of 1m to a minimum of 0.4m and the depth varied from a maximum of 0.24m to a minimum of 0.09m. The grave-cut-shaped pits did not cut each other and the maximum distance between two of these pits was 6.6m and the minimum 0.28m; the mean average of the distance between these pits measured c. 1.78m.
The spatial distribution of these pits and their common orientation suggests that there was a purposeful arrangement of these features and that they were possibly once covered with a mound of earth or even a stone grave-marker to identify individual graves. Although no evidence of this was recorded during excavations, such aboveground markers could easily have been removed as a result of agricultural activity. From two of the pits, possible pillow stones were recovered and another two pits were partially lined with stones.
A cremation pit which had been truncated by a grave-cut-shaped pit was also recorded in Area A. This simple cremation pit pre-dates the grave-cut-shaped pit and this follows the general pattern for inhumations and cremations in Iron Age Ireland. It is possible that the thirteen grave-cut-shaped pits from Area A were the remains of late prehistoric or early historic inhumations, but it is not possible to definitively identify these pits as graves as no skeletal material was recovered. In consequence, it is necessary to wait for the results of phosphate analysis from the fill of the pits before positively identifying them as graves and part of the inhumation rite.
Later activity at Site 15 is represented by linear-shaped drainage and agricultural features, consisting of seven furrows, two ditches and one drain which crossed the site.
In conclusion, to gain a fuller understanding it will be necessary to reassess and clarify the interpretation of the site using the results from the radiocarbon dating and other relevant specialist analysis.