2009:277 - TULLYORIOR: A50 Corbet Lough, Down

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of a proposed road realignment located along the A50 Corbet Lough Road, Co. Down, was carried out over a period of ten days between 4 March and 22 April 2009. A total of c. 400m of the alignment underwent monitoring, with the resulting identification of an area of Early Christian occupation activity which extended beyond the limit of road-construction works.

Excavation revealed the survival of two apparent phases of activity at the site. The initial phase of occupation activity consisted of the excavation of a large pit and associated enclosing gully. The pit appears to represent the remains of a large refuse pit containing deposits which may be attributed to hearth rake-out; i.e. tips of charcoal-rich and burnt soil. The absence of heavy burning along the base of the pit precludes it from functioning as a hearth or fire pit. The recovery of several sherds of bucket-shaped Early Christian pottery (souterrain ware) confirms both the dating and function of this pit. The pottery fragments recovered included one large base sherd, three body sherds and a rim sherd, all probably from the same vessel. The fabric of each of the sherds was similar in nature consisting of a grey core with orange buff and containing heavy carbon deposits, particularly evident on the base sherd. This carbonised material suggests that the pot had been placed over a fire/within the hearth as a means of cooking, hence its inclusion within the rubbish pit once broken.

The enclosing gully which encircled the north and west side of the pit has been interpreted as the probable remains of a bedding trench for a larger superstructure, perhaps a dwelling or the remains of an outbuilding peripheral to a main area of occupation activity.