2011:171 - OULEY: Cashel Quarry, Down

Resolution of archaeological deposits identified during pre-development test trenching in 2010 (Excavations 2010, no. 231) was carried out over a three-week period in February 2011. Subsequent hand excavation confirmed the existence of a small prehistoric ring-ditch cremation cemetery. A total of four ring-ditches were identified, three of which (Ring-ditches 1–3) were located at the northern end of the site. These three were placed along an apparent north-west/south-east alignment for a distance of 24.5m, the central ring-ditch being the largest in extent. A fourth (Ring-ditch 4) was located 25.5m to the south-west, separated from the others by a seam of bedrock outcrop. Ring-ditches 1–3 each contained a central pit cremation burial (Cremations 1–3), with a further two isolated pit burials (Cremations 4 and 5) uncovered 3m to the south of Ring-ditch 2. Archaeological activity associated with Ring-ditch 4 proved to be more extensive. Here the remains of a small rectangular post-hole structure which appeared to pre-date the ring-ditch was uncovered at its causeway entrance, facing east. Five inhumations or grave-cuts were also identified within the area defined by the ring-ditch, while an additional six inhumations were located just outside its north-eastern edge. In addition to these burials, another six cremation burial pits (Cremations 6–11) were uncovered surrounding the ring-ditch to its north and west, as were three large pits.