County: Donegal Site name: BALLYMACARRY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 11E0375
Author: Martin McGonigle
Site type: Pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 635048m, N 931198m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.126910, -7.450487
A programme of monitoring undertaken on the site of a proposed housing development in September 2011 revealed two features of potential archaeological significance (a burnt spread and a large pit containing burnt material).
Excavation of the two potential features was undertaken on 26 October 2011. One of the features proved to be non-archaeological root-burning. The other proved to be a large suboval pit, 2.3m long, 1.4m wide and 0.17m deep, aligned east–west. It contained two fills and was lined by in situ burnt material. The identification of an ephemeral in situ burnt deposit in the base of this feature, overlain by a deposit of thick charcoal, suggests that it was a fire pit. The pit appeared to be capped by a deposit of light yellowish-brown sandy clay containing moderate amounts of stones and pebbles. No artefacts were recovered from this excavation; nevertheless, this feature is thought to have been of archaeological significance. Testing carried out at this site in 2008 (Excavations 2008, no. 299, 08E0987) identified two similar features in areas beyond the limits of the current proposed development. These features were not excavated and are preserved in situ at present but may attest to possible prehistoric activity in this area.
John Cronin and Associates 28 Upper Main Street, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
