2010:067 - Loughans, 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 3km of the pipeline in the townland of Loughans. Areas of investigation were allocated a prefix which included the eastern road crossing number (RDX number) and the field number (F number). These investigations took place between 16 June and 16 July 2010
There was a total of eighteen areas of archaeology investigated in the 3km section of the pipeline within this townland. These eighteen areas were located in four separate sections (RDX 6, 7, 8 and 9), each of which will be described below.
RDX 6 F01 lay between Park Lane and the Scarva Road, just south of Gilford at approximately 306347E 347338N. There were five areas of archaeological deposits in this section which comprised isolated groups of rounded pits varying in size from 0.2m to 2m wide. One particular feature was filled with concentrated charcoal material from which burnt stone and prehistoric pottery sherds were recovered.
RDX 7 F01 lay just north of the Tandragee Road to the south-west of Gilford at 306278E 347628N. The archaeology here consisted of the remains of a large fulacht spread. This spread measured approximately 5m by 10m, although it extended for an unknown distance below the Tandragee Road to the south. One large subcircular trough feature lay below the spread of burnt stone and charcoal. No finds were recovered.
RDX 8 F01 to F04 lay north of Whinney Hill Road and south of Birch Grove Road. In this section a total of seven areas of archaeology were investigated. Five of these areas comprised either single large pits or small groups of isolated pits, none of which produced any datable evidence. The other two areas were more substantial. The first of these was in RDX 8 F01, at 305983E 347948N, and comprised eleven subrectangular features and two curvilinear features. This area measured approximately 8m by 25m and, in agreement with BGE and NIEA, was preserved in situ using terram, after being planned and surveyed. The other substantial area was situated at 305778E 348907N in RDX 8 F02 and comprised multiple irregular charcoal-rich features both cut into, and overlain by hill-wash material. There were no datable finds or diagnostic characteristics to further interpret these features but they are likely to represent general prehistoric activity; appropriate samples have been retained for further analysis and dating. In this area the archaeological deposits at risk of destruction by the pipeline were excavated and the remaining features were preserved in situ.
RDX 9 F01 and F03 lay west of the Birchgrove Road and east of the Newry Canal. There was a total of five areas of archaeology in this section. There were two areas of three pits, a large fulacht fiadh, a grain-drying kiln and a 19th-century house foundation. The two areas of pits were isolated and showed no apparent structural pattern; one did, however, produce sherds of prehistoric pottery.
The large fulacht was located in RDX 9 F01 with a grid reference of 305430E 348458N. This 20m by 20m feature lay below the edge of a peat accumulation in a hollow between two slopes rising to the east and west. The spread of burnt stone and charcoal overlay several subsoil-cut features. One of these features may have been a pit/trough for holding water. This trough had the remains of wooden planks laid parallel along its base.
The possible medieval grain-drying kiln was situated in RDX 9 F02 at 305104E 348628N. This kiln was keyhole-shaped with a stone-built internal chamber. Several sherds of possible early medieval pottery were retrieved during investigations. The subcircular bowl measured 3.5m across and approximately 0.6m deep. The flue measured approximately 7m long, 0.6–0.8m wide and 0.4–0.6m deep. An additional possible flue and kiln extended beyond the edge of the strip to the north. There were also four post-holes around the periphery of the main kiln suggesting a structure over, or around, forming a housing or shelter.
The 19th-century house foundation was situated close to the large fulacht spread at 305460E 348425N. This dwelling was present on the second-edition OS map (1861) and had disappeared by the third edition (1931). The remains of the foundations consisted of large rounded stones with loose powdery mortar. A small portion of cobbled floor remained internal to the structure as did a small section of path leading from the house towards a well nearby to the west.