2009:496 - SITE AR049, GLEBE, Antrim

An excavation took place during the period September 2006 in advance of the construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme. Prior assessment (Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, 2005) and centreline test-trenching was carried out by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd in 2006. The features excavated on AR049 consisted of the remains of a small burnt mound, a trough with a concentration of stake-holes on its western edge, and three pits.
The large burnt mound measured 17.5m by 12.5m with a depth of 0.1m. A smaller spread of burnt-mound material measured 5m by 3m with a depth of 0.22m. It was found c. 5m to the east of the main burnt-mound deposit. It appeared to be the burnt-mound waste of a single pit, which was 1m to the south of this small burnt spread. One trough was found approximately in the centre of the site. It was 2.6m north-west/south-east by 2.2m with a maximum depth of 0.4m. There was a vertical stake-hole in the base of the south-east corner and a west-slanting stake-hole in the base of the north-east corner. Multiple stake-holes were found on both the northwestern and south-western corners above the base and they consisted of both vertical and slanted stake-holes. From their layout it appears that the post-holes held wooden stakes which formed a structure, probably forming a kind of ^A’ frame. It may have been the frame for a light covering or perhaps just a support for holding something over the trough centre. Two circular pits were excavated. The first measured 0.86m by 0.78m and was 0.32m deep. The second pit was larger and deeper, measuring 1.5m by 1m and was 0.45m deep. There was a third possible pit which measured 2.9m by 1.25m with a depth of 0.35m in the centre. One piece of burnt bone, one piece of unburnt bone and a possible claw or talon were uncovered on the site. Three possible whetstones were also found.
Editor’s note: This summary did not arrive in time for inclusion in the bulletin of 2006.