2008:322 - A1 Scheme 1, Newry, Carnmeen – Site 2, Down

This site was investigated during the construction of the new A1 Newry bypass at Chainage 3270 and 3450 just off the Cloghernamer Road in Carmeen townland. Monitoring work and cleaning was carried out under licence AE/07/172 and excavation work was conducted under licence AE/08/15.
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. Within Carnmeen townland there are a total of eight sites in the NISMR. Five of these are standing stones, two are sites identified from aerial photographs and the last is the Newry Canal.
Site 2 comprised six areas, of which one area was deemed to be non-archaeological. The five remaining areas (5, 10, 11, 26 and 27) are briefly described below.
Area 5 consisted of a spread of fulacht fiadh material on a natural mound encircled by a curvilinear ditch. Below this spread were a small post-hole and a trough with three timbers lining its base. The south and eastern areas were highly disturbed, with two modern pits and silted material from a drainage ditch and stone-filled drain running north–south across this area.
Area 10 consisted of burnt-mound material which had been disturbed by later drainage. Removal of the spread revealed eight pits, a trough and, to the south-west, another large pit with a post-hole and a smaller pit. To the north of the spread was a series of three trough features filled with fulacht fiadh-type material. There was a post-hole immediately to the south of the central trough. To the north-west of this lay another large trough surrounded by eight stake-holes. The trough had two pits to its north-east and south-east end, with three post-holes in association.
Area 11 consisted of a stone-built corn-drying kiln with a flue running north-west out of a large chamber. This was disturbed by a large field boundary which ran across the site. At the south-eastern end of the area, also disturbed by the field boundary, was a large stone dump. Elsewhere, 22 pits and post-holes were uncovered, including a pit associated with two stake-holes and a post-hole at its western end and two pits side by side which produced prehistoric pottery.
Area 26 comprised a small pit with a single fill. One metre to the north of this was a medium-sized pit with three fills which produced prehistoric pottery. There was also a field boundary running north-east to south-west across the site.
Area 27 consisted of a small shallow pit with a single fill.