County: Armagh Site name: Artabrackagh
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/10/96
Author: Warren Bailie, Archaeological Development Services, Unit 6, Channel Wharf, 21 Old Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9DE.
Site type: Prehistoric/early medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 699674m, N 850854m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.396522, -6.465061
The archaeological deposits investigated under this licence were uncovered during 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 24m-wide pipeline corridor crossed a total of twelve townlands, eleven of which revealed archaeological deposits; this bulletin summarises the archaeological investigations carried out over approximately 1.2km of the pipeline in the townland of Artabrackagh. These investigations took place between 26 May and 6 July 2010.
There were a total of eight areas of archaeology investigated under this licence, five of which consisted of isolated groups of pits of probable prehistoric date but of as yet unknown function. The remaining three areas, located at RDX 18 F01 299580E 249909N, were in close proximity to each other and may have therefore been one large area of contemporary activity. Of the three areas, two areas consisted of multiple pits, post- and stake-holes with no apparent structural arrangement. The third area, and possible focus of the site, was a possible medieval grain-drying kiln situated on a south-facing slope overlooking a wide expanse of peat land to the south. The kiln consisted of a stone-lined rectangular chamber, measuring 1.5m by 4m and 0.5m deep, with multiple flues extending south-west and one exhaust outlet extending north. There was evidence of a wooden plank in a section of the exhaust outlet which may have been used to control airflow and heat retention in the kiln. Large quantities of what on initial inspection appear to be early medieval pottery sherds were found in the main flu leading into the kiln chamber. It is uncertain whether these pots were used to contain the grain whilst drying but large fragments of the flat-based pottery were found in situ in the flu. A subrectangular post-hole-built structure measuring 3m by 6m was set around the main kiln, possibly the remains of a structure overlying, or housing, the kiln.
