2008:317 - Ballcowan, Down

Excavation was undertaken at a proposed single-house development at Mealough Road, Carryduff (Ballycowan townland), on 4–8 February 2008. Excavation uncovered the remains of an enclosure bank which enclosed an area c. 20m north-west/south-east by 18m with associated internal subsoil-cut archaeological features. The best-preserved portions of the enclosure bank were along the southern and western limits with the northern and eastern portions having been removed by modern development. The bank was constructed from redeposited subsoil which overlay the original topsoil. The bank survived to a maximum height of 1.1m by 3–7m wide. The internal area of the enclosure was slightly dished, into which a total of ten subsoil-cut features were uncovered, consisting of pits, post-hole, stake-hole and gully. While no distinct structure could be identified, a stake-hole and two post-holes, one of which contained packing stones, may have been part of a structure. In total four sherds of Early Christian pottery were recovered from the deposits, suggesting that the site represented the remains of an Early Christian ditched enclosure.