2010:069 - Mullahead, 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 2.5km of the pipeline in the townland of Mullahead. Areas of investigation were allocated a prefix which included the eastern road crossing number (RDX number) and the field number (F number). The areas of archaeology were uncovered in sections RDX 9, 10 and 11; these investigations took place between 8 and 28 June 2010 and will be described separately below.
A total of sixteen areas of archaeology were investigated, twelve of which consisted of isolated groups of pits of probable prehistoric date but as yet unknown function and one small fulacht spread. The remaining four areas revealed more significant concentrations of archaeological activity.
The first of these significant concentrations, RDX 10 F02, was situated at 303727 348588 and consisted of a partial sub-oval enclosure which extended beyond the edge of the stripped area to the south. The approximate diameter of this enclosure was 12m and it may represent the remains of a denuded barrow or possible slot-trench for an oval structure. There were no peripheral features or internal structural elements.
The next area to the west, RDX 10 F03, situated at 303570 348570, was a spread of fulacht material measuring approximately 5m by 5m. This spread overlay several shallow features which may have at one time functioned as troughs for the fulacht. The burnt stone and charcoal were overlain by an accumulation of organic material in what was a natural hollow. There was also extensive post-medieval drainage in the environs of the site, which included an elaborate stone-built French drain of probable 19th- or 20th-century origin.
The next significant area of archaeology, RDX 10 F06, situated at 303556 348567, was a small-scale metalworking site situated on an east-facing slope overlooking a small stream. There were two metalworking furnaces, one keyhole-shaped and one circular, with three peripheral features. A total of 3kg of tap slag was retrieved from the circular furnace. A smaller quantity was retrieved from the keyhole furnace.
The last area, RDX 11 F03, was located at 302707 348980 and comprised an area of possible Bronze Age funerary and settlement activity. This lay on a west-facing slope overlooking an area of peat accumulation. The archaeological deposits included a 3.5m-diameter penannular ditch representing the remains of a small barrow. There was also one stone-lined hearth which was encompassed by a curved arrangement of multiple stake-holes. This stake-hole structure may have been the remains of a hut circle or simply a windbreak. There were also numerous post-holes present across the site with a series of large pits located on the lower slope which contained decorated pottery of a possible Bronze Age date.