2009:794 - MULLAGHBANE – AREA 62, Tyrone

This site was investigated as part of the proposed corridor improvements of the line of the A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley, where 15km of new road will be constructed.
Situated in an area of archaeological sensitivity, there are several sites of archaeological interest nearby, the closest of which are a prehistoric standing stone, a rath and an enclosure.
The archaeological remains in Area 62, which measured c. 62m north to south by 14m, comprised two pits. The first was located in the northern part of Area 62 and was of oval shape measuring 1.25m in diameter and 0.25m deep. It had an east to west orientation and showed a gradual break of slope at the top and gradual sloping sides with a flat base. The feature had a single fill consisting of a soft, black to dark-brown silty clay containing frequent amounts of large stones and moderate amounts of burnt-bone fragments. The second pit was located 44m south of the first and was also+oval-shaped but considerably smaller, measuring only 0.5m in diameter and 0.15m deep. The feature was orientated north-west to southeast. It had a sharp break of slope at the top, side and base on the north-west side and a gradual break of slope at the top, side and base on the south-east side, while the base was of a concave shape. It had a single fill consisting of a soft-to medium-black to dark-brown silty clay containing a small quantity of burnt bone.
Area 62 is located adjacent to+an archaeological complex+which incorporates evidence of a prehistoric settlement site, a ring-ditch, a souterrain, several burnt mounds, a corn-drying kiln and various other associated features, which are covered in more depth elsewhere by this writer and Yvonne Whitty (Excavations 2008, Nos 1202–1204), AE/08/101). Given the proximity of Area 62 to this complex, it seems likely that the features found in this area were related to the structures discovered in the complex and either represent the remains of two cremation pits or the remains of refuse pits.