2011:585 - CASTLE HILL, DUNGANNON, Tyrone

It is proposed that the current Castle Hill site be enhanced as a visitor attraction. This will include the construction of grassed and gravel pathways, curved stepped ramps, viewing platforms and landscaping, while a new access will be created from Circular Road to the north-east. Other associated features will include information boards, fencing, street lighting, bollards, drainage and planting.
Castle Hill, itself the location of a castle (TYR054-017), lies within an archaeologically sensitive area. The topography consists of high ground in the western part, falling away to the east, south-east and north. The elevated aspect gives it strategic importance, and this has been utilised both in the past and more recently; several castles were built on the site during medieval and post-medieval times, while during the 20th century it housed a Territorial Army centre and later a security forces base.
In Zone 1 (the Hill), monitoring of the groundworks associated with the reduced excavation to formation level within the area of the ramped access revealed the partial remains of the skeleton of a young woman. Manual reduction revealed a second skeleton, which overlay a series of archaeological layers. The excavation of this area uncovered a complex ‘island’ of archaeological deposits and features surviving in an area of modern disturbance.
Preliminary interpretation of the seven phases of archaeological activity found on the hill is as follows: Phase 1 consisted of a ditch system dating from the 16th or early 17th century; Phase 2 was an early 17th-century stone and clay surface; Phase 3 saw the decline of this surface and subsequent activity in the form of the construction of a bank dating from the mid-17th century. The burials belong to Phase 4 and date from the mid- to late 17th century, while Phase 5 represents a period of landscaping in the 18th century. This was followed by the construction of a large enclosing ditch, and finally by the deposition of made ground in order to level up the area.
In Zone 2 (the Hill Knox Hannyton Towers/Informal Area) nothing of archaeological significance has been exposed, but groundworks are continuing.
In Zone 3 (the Parking and Maintenance Area), which is located within the north-western portion of the site, nothing of archaeological significance has, so far, been uncovered.
Zone 4 (the Viewing Walkway and Entrance Road) contains the access road, which curves north-east from the entrance on Castle Hill, round the base of the Hill (Zone 1) and continues north to Zone 3. Possible continuations of ditches noted in Zone 1were uncovered in this area.
Zone 5A and B (the Garden) is set on the north-eastern slope of Castle Hill. Excavation for the paths and north ramp has revealed subsoil in places, with evidence of linear subsoil-cut features and cobbled surfaces, probable roads or pathways. Late medieval pottery and a quernstone fragment have been recovered from several of the linear features, which have been tentatively identified as drains and furrows. Elsewhere, along the western and south-western sides of the Zone, evidence for a late medieval ditch was uncovered, probably associated with the defence of the castle.
The main groundworks in Zone 5C (the Garden) have been related to grading levels associated with the south ramp. Subsoil has been encountered downslope, though ground levels have largely been raised within this area. A possible small ditch and a portion of probable 19th-century cobbled pathway were uncovered within the footprint of the ramp.
Nothing of archaeological significance has so far been uncovered within Zone 6 (the Garden–North-East Zone, Laneway Zone), which shows a great deal of modern disturbance in the form of a drain that runs downhill along its entire length.
Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered at the Boundary Wall Works, with large amounts of hillwash evident against the internal faces of the wall.
Works on site are still ongoing.

David Kilner and Stef McMullen, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, 96 University St, Belfast BT7 1HE