2010:048 - Kernan, Co. Down – Derryhale, Co. Armagh, Armagh

The archaeological deposits investigated under this licence were uncovered during topsoil-stripping for the construction of a 12.5km gas pipeline by Bord Gáis Éireann (NI), running between Kernan, near Gilford in County Down, and the townland of Derryhale in County Armagh. The topsoil-stripping was monitored by ADS Ltd between 29 April and 19 May 2010. The pipeline crossed a total of twelve townlands, eleven of which revealed archaeological deposits; the archaeology in each of the eleven townlands was investigated under a separate excavation licence. The eleven licences by townland are as follows: Artabrackagh AE/10/96 (see No. 56 below), Drumnakelly AE/10/97 (see No. 63 below), Ballyworkan AE/10/98 (see No. 58 below), Mullahead AE/10/99 (see No. 69 below), Brackagh AE/10/100 (see No. 59 below), Ballymore AE/10/101 (see No. 57 below), Unshinagh AE/10/102 (see No. 73 below), Loughans AE/10/103 (see No. 67 below), Drumaran AE/10/104 (see No. 210 below), Mullabrack AE/10/105 (see No. 224 below) and Kernan AE/10/106.
During the initial topsoil-stripping and subsequent cleaning, a total of 183 areas of archaeological potential were found. Where possible these areas were grouped for ease of investigation and recording which was carried out between 5 May and 16 July 2010. Among isolated groups of pits and post-medieval activity, there were a number of significant sites uncovered. These included the remains of ten fulachta fiadh, one area of Bronze Age settlement and funerary activity, a possible Bronze Age oval enclosure, a rath, two possible medieval grain-drying kilns, a hilltop industrial area with multiple small-scale kilns and clay extraction pit, and one site of metalworking activity.