2008:063 - A1 Scheme 1, Newry, Glassdrummond – Site 1, Armagh

This site was investigated during the construction of the new A1 Newry bypass. 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: two standing stones, DOW 040–036 and DOW046–044; two possible rectangular houses, DOW040–024; and a motte at Mount Hill, DOW046–002. From records held by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and additional aerial photographs, a further 25 potential archaeological sites were identified in the study area.
Site 1 was discovered during monitoring by Peter Bowen under licence AE/07/172 (Excavations 2007, No. 69). The excavation, under licence AE/08/13, took place between February and April 2008.
Situated 2.5km north-east of Newry city, this site lies on the northern side of the Armagh road in the townland of Glassdrummond. It comprised five areas (1A–1E) located within 100m of each other, on a predominantly north-facing slope that reached its base within the northern portion of 1D. Area 1E was located 250m further north-east on an east-facing slope. To the north of Area 1D the ground rose dramatically and all of Site 1 is overlooked by Site 7, a series of later prehistoric funerary ring-ditches.
Area 1A measured 6m by 5m and contained two vertically projecting post-holes, both oval in plan and tapering to a concave base.
Area 1B measured 15m by 15m and contained a series of post-medieval plough furrows and the remains of an undated potential structure. The plough furrows were orientated east-south-east to west-north-west and north-north-west to south-south-east, ranged from 0.3–0.6m wide and were filled by a mixture of silt and sand. The potential structure was located in the south-west of Area 1B. It comprised a cluster of four post-holes, one stake-hole and one pit, forming no discernible pattern. All structural elements were very shallow or heavily truncated and appeared to project vertically.
Area 1C comprised an area of 10m by 5m, in which was uncovered the truncated remains of a plough furrow, but nothing of archaeological significance.
Area 1D comprised an area c. 35m by 35m, located across a plateau, north-facing slope and area of low ground.
Plateau
A series of heavily truncated post-medieval plough furrows were recorded criss-crossing the area of the plateau. They were predominately orientated north-east to south-west or north-west to south-east, ranged from 0.3–0.4m wide and were filled by a variety of silts, sands, and clays.
To the south of the site on the plateau, traces of three possible structures, a number of potentially associated pits and some lone stake-holes were recorded. Five sherds of prehistoric pottery and fourteen struck flakes were retrieved from the surface clean.
The first potential structure was located towards the west of the plateau. It comprised two post-holes and three stake-holes, possibly forming a pattern but not all inclining towards a central point. The second potential structural trace was located c. 7m south-east. It comprised a rough circle of six post-holes, surrounding a seventh central post-hole. They ranged from 0.12m to 0.58m in width; all projected vertically and encircled a space of c. 4.5m east–west by 5m. The fills consisted of silty clays and silty sands, mostly containing at least occasional flecks of charcoal. A shallow pit found within the eastern arc of Potential Structure 2 may have been related. It was filled by moderately compacted mid-greyish-brown silty clay containing occasional flecks of charcoal and four rounded granite stones of less than 0.3m diameter. Approximately 6m to the north-east of this potential structure, a solitary vertically projecting post-hole, 0.2m in diameter and filled by sandy clay, was recorded. The third potential structure was located at the northern edge of the plateau. It comprised three post-holes and a pit. The post-holes ranged from 0.15m to 0.22m in width and, while two projected vertically, the furthest west did incline east. One of the post-holes exhibited signs of the post’s removal prior to its decay. They were filled by a variety of clay and sand. The pit was 0.82m by 0.64m in plan, 0.08m deep and contained charcoal-rich silty sand.
A number of lone features with no obvious potential associations were uncovered on the plateau. These included a stake-hole, post-hole, pit and a charcoal-rich spread.
Slope and lower ground
Further north, on the slope and lower ground, four spreads of burnt-mound material were discernible after the initial clean. The first was a clearly defined spread of moderately compacted blackish-grey silty sand and heat-shattered stone containing frequent flecks of charcoal. It was 5.05m by 4.85m in plan, 0.21m deep and removal revealed a solitary vertical stake-hole filled with material identical to the overlying spread. The stake-hole was 0.18m in diameter and cut into an underlying alluvial deposit of sandy clay. Investigation of the second spread revealed that it extended under a portion of that alluvial material and suggested two distinct phases of burnt-mound activity on-site. The second spread was 8m by 6m in plan, 0.13m deep and comprised loosely compacted black silty sand and heat-fractured stone containing frequent flecks of charcoal. The third spread comprised identical material, measured 4m by 3.2m in plan and was 0.26m deep. Both were situated above a second alluvial deposit of sand. The fourth spread of burnt-mound material was situated south of the others, on and at the base of the north-facing slope. It was complicated by many small alluvial deposits and consequently it was decided to begin its investigation with two sondages.
The first sondage extended north–south through the centre of the deposits and revealed two cut features, both beneath and cut through burnt-mound material, much of which was apparently redeposited through alluvial activity. In the southern end of the sondage the highest stratigraphic element comprised a mix of alluvial deposits, which filled the cut of a potential overflow and inflow system extending from the cut of a trough. The overflow channel was 0.86m wide, 0.32m deep and ran 6m north-east of the trough to where it terminated near a large similarly filled oval pit, 4.4m long, 2.1m wide and 0.33m deep. The potential inflow channel extended 3m from the south-east and was 0.6m wide and 0.2m deep.
The trough was rectangular in plan, with rounded corners and steep sides breaking gradually to a flat base. It was east to west orientated, 1.8m by 1.05 in plan and 0.5m deep. It was filled by moderately compact dark-brownish-black silty sand and heat-shattered stone containing frequent pieces of charcoal and occasional modern root intrusions, with some slumped natural along its southern edge. In the centre of the sondage a series of alluvial deposits covered the cuts of two pits. The larger pit was oval in plan, had steep sides that broke sharply to a flat base and was 1.04m by 0.85m in plan and 0.49m deep. Its basal fill comprised moderately compacted dark-brown silty clay containing occasional charcoal flecks and preserved organics. All subsequent fills comprised alluvial deposits of sand with varying intensity of charcoal inclusions. The smaller pit was circular in plan, with steep sides that broke sharply to a flat base, 0.48m in diameter, 0.16m deep and filled by moderately compacted mid-greyish-brown fine sand. Both pits were cut through a charcoal-rich alluvial deposit of fine sand, which was c. 12m long, 3m wide and 0.2m deep. The northern edge of the sondage extended through a modern drain and under the site of where one of the burnt spreads had previously existed. This revealed the same series of alluvial deposits of silt and clay revealed elsewhere within the low-lying area.
The second sondage was positioned 1m to the west and orientated north-west to south-east. Its excavation uncovered a second trough and revealed the burnt spread identified in pre-excavation as constituting the fills of two distinct features. The cut of the trough revealed in the second sondage was well defined on the southern edge but less clear on the northern. It was rectangular in plan, with rounded corners and moderate to steep sides that broke gradually to a concave base. It was orientated north-east to south-west and its basal fill comprised moderately compacted dark-blackish-grey silty clay, heat-affected granite stones of less than 0.2m average diameter and frequent flecks of charcoal. A badly degraded piece of charred timber was recorded in section and may represent a fragment of collapsed lining.
A third trough was uncovered c. 5m west of the second trough. It was oval in plan, with steep sides that broke gradually to a concave base, orientated north-west to south-east, 2m by 1.4m in plan and 0.5m deep. The basal fill comprised moderately compact dark-blackish-grey silty clay containing frequent charcoal pieces and fire-cracked stone and represents the material employed in the last use of the trough. The second fill comprised moderately compact mid-brown silty clay containing frequent angular stones and preserved organics and probably represents a post-abandonment phase when the pit lay open. The upper or final fill comprised moderately compacted mid-grey silty sand containing occasional charcoal flecks and degraded granite. It was very similar to the adjacent spread and probably derived from when it collapsed from mound to spread.
To the east of the two sondages an east–west-orientated ditch was exposed. It commenced halfway down the slope and continued out of the site to the east, had steep sides that broke gradually to a flat base and was 1.98m wide, 0.33m deep and 8m long. The basal fill comprised firmly compacted dark-grey sandy clay and was overlain by loosely compacted light-brown sandy gravel. While of unknown antiquity, it was overlain by the alluvial layer into which most post-medieval features were cut and its fills were reminiscent of those filling the inflow and outflow system to the fulacht trough.
Area 1E was situated c. 230m north-east of Area 1D along the face of an east-facing slope and comprised an area of c. 30m by 40m. A series of post-medieval ditches and furrows extended across the northern portion of the site. They ran on an east–west and north–south alignment, were filled by a variety of silt, clay and sand and were probably remnants of 19th- to 20th-century farming features.
All remaining archaeological features were located at the base of the hill in the south-east corner of the site. This concentration comprised five stake-holes, six pits, two linear features and spreads. The five stake-holes formed no discernible pattern but were within close proximity to one another and all bar one projected vertically. The one exception had a slight southerly projection. They ranged from 0.06m to 0.12m in diameter, were filled by sandy silt or silty clay and all contained occasional flecks of charcoal. The two linear features were truncated by a modern trench interpreted as a possible geotechnical investigation pit. Both were c. 0.3–0.4m wide, ran parallel to one another on a north to south orientation and had concave bases which gave a gully-like appearance. The westernmost contained a single fill that comprised moderately compacted reddish-brown silty clay and contained occasional charcoal flecks. The easternmost contained three fills and splayed considerably before being truncated by the modern intrusion.