2009:255 - DUNDONALD: Chapel Hill, Carrowreagh, Down

This was the third season of excavation at an extensive site that is being developed for private housing. Seasons 1 and 2, directed by Colin Dunlop, saw the excavation of a rath, several ring-barrows, Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement and a Neolithic henge (Excavations 2008, No. 339, AE/07/262). Season 3 saw the investigation of three distinct areas of archaeology.

A field boundary was the only feature in Area 1. Area 2 comprised a linear slot with associated pits, post-holes and a hearth and four cremations with two associated post-holes. The cremations, which appeared as small, circular pits, and associated postholes, had been inserted into a layer of hill wash. Sherds of as yet unidentified pottery were found associated with the cremations, while one of the cremation pits featured a capstone.

In Area 3, a burnt mound and trough were located towards the south-western corner of the site, adjacent to what may have been a palaeochannel. A series of pits, post-and stake-holes along with a vast quantity of decorated pottery were uncovered to the east of the burnt mound. The pottery was similar to that uncovered from the henge monument (AE/07/262) located c. 150m west of Area 3. The main concentration of archaeology in Area 3 was a large oval enclosure that measured c. 80 m east–west. This was located at the highest point on the site and consisted of an enclosing ditch and several spreads of archaeological material. Fragments of a quernstone and several sherds of pottery were recovered during the initial investigation of the area.