2008:064 - A1 Scheme 1, Newry, Glassdrummond – Site 7, Armagh

Site 6 was investigated as part of an archaeological mitigation strategy for the construction of a new bypass around Newry, Co. Down/Armagh (A1 Scheme 1). 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 that 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, DOW040–036 and DOW046–044; two possible rectangular houses, DOW040–024; and a motte, DOW046–002, at Mount Hill. 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.
The site was located to the north of the Armagh road and west of the current Newry bypass. Two previously unidentified sites, 1 and 9, were located in the immediate vicinity of Site 7. Site 1 (see No. 63 above) was located c. 50m south of Site 7 and comprised four discrete areas of archaeological deposits including a burnt mound. Site 9 (see No. 51 above) was located c. 250m north of Site 7, at grid reference J0705 2990, and consisted of a possible enclosure with both internal and external features. Archaeological deposits are evident across the entire hill, which consists of two drumlins separated by a lower-lying area.
Site 7 measured 250m in length (north–south) and between a maximum of 90m and a minimum of 15m in width. The archaeological remains at the site included a series of intercutting field boundaries and furrows, three grain-drying kilns, three ring-ditches, five cremation pits, sixty-three pits, seventeen post-holes, nine stake-holes and fifteen archaeological spreads. What remained of the prehistoric archaeology on-site was heavily truncated and disturbed by ongoing agricultural activities.
Spreads
Fifteen spreads were excavated on the site. Three of these consisted of hill-wash. Many of the spreads were located at the base of the bedrock to the centre of the north of the site and to the west of the site. The majority of these spreads were amorphous and quite shallow; however, a number contained charcoal and produced prehistoric pottery. The spreads varied in size from 0.3m in diameter and 0.1m in depth to 11m in length and 0.4m deep.
Pits
Sixty-three pits were investigated during the excavation. They varied considerably in size and were scattered throughout the site. Two clusters of pits were observed, one to the north-west of the site (Group A) and one in the centre (Group B). The pits in Group A were arranged in a subcircular fashion with an entrance to the south. These pits produced significant amounts of both burnt and unburnt flint, prehistoric pottery sherds and burnt bone. One of the pits in this cluster also produced a rubbing stone. The average dimensions for the pits in this group were 0.75m in length, 0.45m in width and 0.23m in depth.
The pits in Group B were similarly aligned in a circular arrangement, with an entrance in the west. The artefacts from the pits included burnt and unburnt flint, prehistoric pottery and burnt bone. The average dimensions for the pits in this group were 0.6m in length, 0.5m in width and 0.25m in depth. Two pits to the north of the site produced fragments of prehistoric pottery, with characteristic Beaker decoration evident on the surface. In the west of the site, c. 25m south of Group A and c. 20m north-west of Group B, two pits were excavated which also produced some pottery sherds. Included in this assemblage were some diagnostic shoulder sherds of Western Neolithic type. Another pit in the south-west of the site produced an almost spherical hammerstone.
Post-holes
A total of seventeen post-holes were located throughout the site. Four of these were associated with Group B, mentioned above. Two of the post-holes were associated with Group A. One of the post-holes associated with Group A contained evidence of a post-pipe and packing. Some of the post-holes produced artefacts such as flint and cremated bone. The majority of finds were recovered from the post-holes associated with the pit clusters.
In general, the excavated post-holes were not assembled in any observable pattern and therefore the posts may have functioned as supports for other activities other than as supports for structures. A number of the post-holes were located in the vicinity of the ring-ditches and kilns and may have been associated with them. One of the post-holes that produced pottery was located c. 2.5m east of a pit which contained a hammerstone.
Stake-holes
Nine stake-holes were discovered during the excavation. Two of these were located on either side of a figure-of-eight kiln and another was located within a ring-ditch. No artefacts were retrieved from the stake-holes. The average dimensions of the stake-holes were 0.14m in diameter and 0.11m in depth.
Ring-ditches
Three ring-ditches were excavated on Site 7. One was located to the north of the site, downslope from an outcrop of bedrock. This ring-ditch had been severely truncated and was disjointed in four places. The circumference of the ditch was 5m and the ditch itself measured 0.4m in width by 0.15m in depth. Several fragments of prehistoric pottery were recovered and burnt-bone fragments were observed in the fill.
The second ring-ditch excavated was located in the north-east of the site. It was truncated by a pit in the south and the fill of the ditch was disturbed in the north. Nevertheless, four beads and four flints were recovered from this fill. The average external diameter of the ditch was 4.6m, the width was 0.7m and the depth 0.2m. No entrance to the ring-ditch was evident.
The final ring-ditch was c. 45m to the south of the second and featured a cremation pit in the central area. An entrance was observed in the north-west of the ditch, but this ditch was also severely truncated and a break in the ditch due to disturbance cannot be ruled out. No artefacts were recovered from this ditch; however, fragments of burnt bone were observed in the fill. This ditch measured on average 4.2m in diameter and had a maximum depth of 0.16m.
Cremation pits
Three cremation pits were investigated during the excavation. As mentioned above, one of these was located in the centre of a ring-ditch. This pit may have been truncated, as it was very shallow (0.06m). The fill was composed of 30% cremated bone. The two remaining cremation pits were located adjacent to each other, to the west of the ring-ditches. The second cremation measured 0.78m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.18m in depth. Cremated bone and pottery fragments were recovered from the fill. The final cremation pit measured 1.03m in length, 0.78m in width and 0.16m in depth. This pit contained cremated bone and flint.
Kilns
Three kilns were excavated on the site. Two were figure-of-eight in plan. The western kiln appeared to have been cleared out after use and reused as a waste pit. The fills contained high levels of charcoal and burnt clay and produced fragments of prehistoric pottery and some flint flakes. The kiln measured 1.4m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.2m in depth. The centre kiln also appeared to have been cleaned out after use and then filled with waste material. The fills in this kiln produced significant amounts of charcoal, burnt clay, fragments of flat-bottomed pottery and flint flakes. This kiln measured 2.5m in length, 1.3m in width and 0.32m in depth. The eastern kiln featured a heat-affected base and a high concentration of charcoal. It measured 2.2m in length, 1.94m in width and 0.3m in depth. The kilns may have been used as grain-drying kilns.
Linear features
There were three linear features recorded on the site. One of these truncated the eastern kiln. Two ditches ran across the site to the south-west and contained modern debris. There were many furrows located throughout the site which also would have been related to modern agricultural activity.