2010:058 - Ballyworkan, Armagh

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 0.5km of the pipeline in the townland of Ballyworkan. These investigations took place between 26 May and 6 July 2010.
Two areas of archaeology were uncovered during the topsoil-strip of this 0.5km section of the pipeline corridor, both of which were located on opposite slopes of the same hilltop. The first site was situated on the eastern slope, east of Whiteside’s Hill road, at 300986 349331, and comprised five irregular-shaped pits of probable prehistoric date but as yet of unknown function. The site on the western slope, at 300905 349326, was more extensive; it may be the remains of a multiple kiln site. It consisted of a double curving line of post-holes enclosing the west-facing slope of the hilltop. The lines of these post-holes curved and extended beyond the stripped area to the north and south. Between the outer and inner lines of posts there were multiple irregular-shaped features, with some of a key-hole form suggesting kilns, possibly for grain-drying, but this function is as yet uncertain. Within the inner line of posts there was a 6m by 6m, 1m deep possible clay-extraction pit. The clay may have been used for covering the nearby kilns when in use.