2009:238 - CARNMEEN AND LISDUFF, Down

The proposed development site consists of two fields which lie to the north of the Carnbane Industrial Estate, Newry, Co. Armagh. There are 28 archaeological sites within a 1.5km radius of the proposed development, one of which lies within the actual site boundary (DOW046–026), an enclosure identified from an aerial photograph.

The proposed development is located within the townlands of Carnmeen and Lisduff, through which runs the soon to be completed A1 Newry bypass. Monitoring of topsoil removal and subsequent excavation was carried out in relation to the construction of the DBFO A1 Newry bypass in 2007 and 2008 by ADS Ltd. This monitoring revealed a wealth of previously unrecorded sites, including a large number in the townland of Carnmeen and some in Lisduff, including a number of burnt mounds and associated troughs, a stone-built corn kiln, a rath, four ring-ditches and a prehistoric funerary site (see Excavations 2008 for reports).

The site is dominated by four ridges of higher ground which run approximately north–south across the fields. Evaluated via a series of 43 test-trenches, each 2m wide and totalling 5.3km in length, the site revealed a total of 262 features. Of these features, 60 were of archaeological potential, the remaining being of post-medieval or modern agricultural origin. It was noted that in general the areas of archaeological potential lay along the spine and upper slopes of the ridges of higher ground. Two areas appear to be archaeologically sterile—one in low-lying ground in the north-west of the eastern field and the second in an area of previously disturbed ground to the south of the western field.

The archaeological deposits include a spread of possible burnt-mound material and a 25m diameter subcircular ring-ditch from which sherds of prehistoric pottery were noted in its upper fill. There were also three smaller 5–6m-diameter circular ditches or structures and a group of six cremation pits, two of which lie within one of the smaller ring-ditches.

The remaining areas of archaeological potential are scattered across the evaluated area with no apparent pattern, although, with the trenches being some 35–65m apart, identifying a pattern here would be very difficult. One of these apparently isolated features produced a small sherd of prehistoric pottery.

The evidence collated from the test-trenches showed the presence of an extensive archaeological landscape lying along the ridges of higher ground. The nature of the deposits and finds indicates funerary and possible settlement activity, most likely dating to the Bronze Age period, 1500–500 BC.