2009:012 - BALLYCREGGY AND BALLYLESSON, Antrim

Prior to the construction of a 1.5km length of dual carriageway along the M2/A26 on the eastern outskirts of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, the route was initially tested, then monitored for topsoil-stripping. The archaeological investigations took place between 8 June and 7 October 2009.
Eleven areas were investigated along a 1.5km, 150m-wide stretch of an extension of the M2 linking to the A26 on the south-east outskirts of Ballymena adjacent to the Larne Road roundabout. Of the eleven areas investigated, five proved to be non-archaeological.
The smaller areas of archaeology were situated in the lower-lying areas to the north and south of the main archaeological site, Area 8, a Neolithic hilltop enclosure. These small areas comprised isolated features and groups of shallow subsoil-cut pits, with finds including cremated bone and prehistoric pottery.
Areas 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
These were non-archaeological.
Area 3
One archaeological feature was uncovered in this area during topsoil-stripping. This subcircular feature measured 1m by 1.1m in plan and 0.25m deep. The fill consisted of mid-brown silty clay with moderate charcoal inclusions.
Area 5
This area revealed two archaeological features during topsoil-stripping. The first of these was a sub-oval pit measuring 0.38m by 0.96m and 0.33m deep. The basal fill consisted of stone packing material with light-grey silty clay. Set into this packing material was the charcoal-rich fill. This dark-blackish-brown fine silt may be the remains of a wooden post burnt in situ. To the north of this feature lay an elongated oval feature. This measured 0.76m by 1.58m in plan and 0.26m deep and the fill consisted of mid-brown silty clay with frequent small and medium-sized stones.
Area 8 Area 8 measured c. 60m by 60m and it was situated upon a prominent drumlin at 73m above sea level. This drumlin lay on the north-west edge of a drumlin belt that extended north-east. The archaeology consisted of a subcircular hilltop enclosure measuring 40m by 42.5m with two entrances or causeways across the ditch. This ditch enclosed an area measuring over 1250m• or almost one-third of an acre. In the enclosed area there were four possible subrectangular structures, two hearths, a post-holebuilt entrance to the west and numerous other isolated features both internal and external to the enclosure.
The initial interpretations of archaeological deposits across this enclosure site suggest four potential phases of activity. These are outlined below.
Phase 1: features predating ditch
This phase consists of the earliest possible activity on site represented by three features which are physically cut by the ditch. There are a group of similar curving structures, not cut by the ditch, which may represent temporary windbreak structures; one was associated with a circular hearth.
Phase 2: ditch and possibly contemporary features and structures
This phase consists of the ditch, structures, features enclosed by the ditch and features around the periphery of the ditch that may be associated. This phase also includes a continuous curving line of 60 post/stake-holes along the sloping edge of the ditch.
Phase 3: features of probable prehistoric date cutting the ditch
There were two features of possible prehistoric date that post-date the ditch.
Phase 4: postmedieval features
These post-medieval agricultural features were securely dated to the period.
There was a total of nine sherds of pottery and 271 flint tools and debitage recovered from Area 8. Two of the flint tools were identified as projectiles, one being a leaf-shaped example and the other a petit tranchet derivative. These types of flint artefact are most commonly found in Late Neolithic contexts in Ireland, although they were both found during surface cleaning prior to excavation so do not have secure contexts.
The enclosing ditch measured c. 3m wide with a depth varying between 0.8m and 1.3m, giving a wide U-shaped profile. The fills were fairly consistent throughout with natural silt layers lining the sides and base of the ditch. This same silting sealed the remains of a series of 60 post-and stake-holes along the internal slope of the ditch cut around the northwest edge. This arrangement of posts may have been contemporary with the time the ditch was open, although it cannot be ruled out that they don’t represent an earlier structure.
Area 9
During topsoil-stripping this area revealed three shallow deposits within a 5m by 5m area. The first of these was a subcircular spread which measured 0.3m by 0.3m and 0.08m deep. This material consisted of dark-greyish-brown sandy clay with very small white flecks of burnt bone and frequent charcoal flecks. The second spread lay to the north, measured 0.18m by 0.2m and 0.06m deep and consisted of dark-brownish-grey silty sand with occasional white flecks of burnt bone and moderate charcoal flecking. The final feature lay just west of this and this spread measured 0.1m by 0.24m and 0.04m deep. The material consisted of darkbrownish-grey silty sand, occasional white flecks of burnt bone and moderate charcoal flecking. These may represent the truncated remains of a group of three cremation pits.
Area 10
This area revealed one isolated archaeological feature. This feature was oval in plan and measured 0.6m by 0.9m with a depth of 0.06m. This shallow feature produced 21 sherds of early medieval pottery and the fill consisted of dark-blackish-brown clayey silt with frequent charcoal flecks.
Area 11
This area revealed one area of burnt-mound material. There were two features cut into the subsoil. These cuts, one an oval trough, were contemporary and were filled by the same fills. The basal fill consisted of extremely firm light-greyish-brown clay. Above this lay very firm black silty clay with frequent angular reddened burnt-stone fragments and frequent charcoal flecks. The upper fill consisted of very firm medium-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks.
This area of archaeology had been previously disturbed by ground reduction associated with the current A26 construction in 1960s.