2008:299 - Ballymacarry Lower, Donegal

Testing was undertaken on the site of a proposed housing development at Ballymacarry Lower, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, in December 2008. The site is located c. 0.6km east of the mouth of the Mill River and its entry into Lough Swilly and the southerly extents of the urban area of Buncrana town.
A total of fifteen 2m-wide test-trenches of varying lengths comprising a total length of 2,362m2 were excavated across the landholding of 71,900m2. Several features were identified both on the land surface and in the test-trenches, including two burnt spreads, two linear features, one possible pit, one bótharín (little road) and one former field boundary. Two of these features were of archaeological significance.
A large burnt spread measuring 1.8m east–west by 1.2m and 0.05m deep was uncovered near to the northern end of Trench 16 at NGR 235211 431330. This irregular shaped feature contained a deposit of ash and charcoal overlaying an orange patch of in situ burning. A second area of burning was identified in the south end of Trench 2 at NGR 235156 430874. Measuring c. 1m in width north–south and extending beyond the sides of the trench, this feature was identified as an ephemeral event of in situ burning.
A bótharín, measuring c. 3m in width (east–west) and up to 0.35m in height, orientated north–south and shown on the first-edition OS map for this area, was identified during field-walking on the northern half of the site. Trench 9 was excavated east–west in this area, incorporating a section through part of the feature, which is chiefly made up of stony soil with no discernible evidence of cobbling or metalling. A field drain, measuring c. 0.5m in width, lines the western side of the bótharín, while its eastern side is bounded by a substantial and well-built stone wall.
No finds were recovered from this test excavation.