County: Derry Site name: A6 Londonderry to Claudy GI pits
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/09/211
Author: Colin Dunlop, Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DY.
Site type: Various
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 654383m, N 907417m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.911534, -7.151887
One hundred and sixty-seven test-pits were monitored during geotechnical investigation work in preparation for a proposed 30km dual carriageway between Londonderry and Dungiven. Of the 167 test-pits that were monitored, five contained potential archaeological features and a further six contained artefactual material. In all instances where potential archaeological features were uncovered the features were recorded, covered with geotextile, the test-pits backfilled and the pit moved until clear of any archaeological features. The five pits that contained potential archaeological remains were: TP2144 – linear ditch feature; TP2166 – possible wall slot of circular house; TP2270 – pit containing burnt bone; TP2312 – burnt mound; TP2342 – ditch with partially surviving outer bank. Of the six test-pits that contained artefactual material, five (TP2024, TP2026, TP2089, TP2186, TP2201) produced 19th–20th-century pottery. Pit TP2028 produced a single late Mesolithic blade knapped from a metamorphic rock
