2008:1208 - Lisbeg, areas 9–12, Tyrone

Areas 9–12 were located between Chainages 785 and 1140 and investigated as part of the proposed corridor improvements of the line of the A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley where 15km of new road will be constructed. A total of 43 SMR sites lie within 500m of either side of the new road alignments. In general these sites date to the Early Christian period, with many raths, enclosures and a number of ecclesiastical sites represented. However, prehistoric activity, both settlement and ritual, is poorly represented.
Area 9 was located at the base of a north-east-facing slope at Chainage 785–795, in between a recently created haulage road and the limit of the proposed road-take. The entire site measured c. 6m north–south by 17m and consisted of two curvilinear features, pits and stake-holes. A circular slot-trench, c. 7m in diameter and running into the north side of the road-take, formed a possible structure, with internal linear stake-hole alignments. External features consisted of clusters of stake- and post-holes forming possible external structural elements. The circular slot-trench was enclosed by a concentric palisade slot-trench 6m to the west that contained poorly preserved in situ wood. Finds included lithics and prehistoric pottery.
Area 10 was located between Chainages 940 and 970 and consisted of three spreads of burnt material located at the base of a south-west-facing slope on both sides of a north-west-flowing stream. On the east side of the stream a burnt mound consisting of black charcoal-rich silty clay and heat-cracked stone was uncovered measuring c. 7m by 7.5m in extent and up to 0.3m in depth. A second burnt spread measuring 3.5m by 3.5m and up to 0.2m thick was located towards the south-east. In the north-eastern corner a third spread was discovered, measuring roughly 6.5m by 3.5m and up to 0.2m in depth.
Features included two possible troughs and six pits cut into alluvial sediments. On the west side of the stream a burnt spread c. 10m by 4.5m in extent and up to 0.2m in depth overlay two troughs and four pits. A curvilinear slot-trench, c. 4m in length was found c. 5m upslope of the burnt mound and may have formed part of a bigger structure. A second curvilinear feature of 1.5m in length may also indicate structural activity. Other features included two modern drains and two modern ditches. Finds included a large assemblage of flints and possible slag.
Area 11 was located on a south-east-facing slope at Chainage 1070–1090 and covered an area measuring 20m by 20m. Area 11 was identified during monitored topsoil-stripping as an area with two possible pits. Investigation revealed the features to be non-archaeological natural depressions filled with residue topsoil and sterile silt deposits.
Area 12 was located on a south-east-facing slope by Chainage 1120–1140 and consisted of a cluster of curvilinear and linear features, pits, post- and stake-holes. The curvilinear ditch was U-shaped in plan, enclosing a concentric arrangement of stake-holes and pits. The ditch was cut by two east–west-running gullies, one of which contained prehistoric pottery. A large pit was located to the south of the ditch containing a saddle quernstone. To the east of the ditch a cluster of large pits were found to contain charcoal-rich fills and burnt bone. Other features included a cluster of curvilinear and linear features, a pit, stake-holes and linear slot-trenches. Finds included burnt bone, lithics and prehistoric pottery.