2011:589 - MAGHERAKEEL AND KILLETER, CRILLY'S HILL, AGHAMORE/SCRALEA, COOLCREAGHY, LETTERCARN, CLARE UPPER/BULLOCK PARK, KILMORE ROBINSON, KILMORE IRVINE, BOMACKATALL UPPER, KIRLISH, TULLYARD, KILLEN, LACKAGH, DRUMSCRA, DRUMMENAGH, UNSHINAGH, COOLKEERAGH, TAMLAGHT, Tyrone

The project consisted of the erection of a new 110kV line (38km in overall length) between Magherakeel and Omagh, including a new switching substation at Magherakeel and an extension to the Omagh Main substation. Twenty-one 2m2 test pits were excavated across the scheme at locations where known or possible archaeology was identified in the Environmental Statement.
At Magherakeel substation topsoil was systematically removed by 360° mechanical excavators fitted with toothless buckets. The topsoil, which consisted mostly of dark brown peat, varied in depth from 0.3m at the north-eastern end of the site to 1.6m in the central area, with most other areas generally 0.7–1m in depth. The natural subsoil also varied from area to area, being orange and yellow sandy clay with moderate stone inclusions at the north-eastern end of the site, giving way to bluish-grey and grey clayey sand glacial till, with frequent stone inclusions, on the remaining areas of the site. A number of field boundary drains, stone drains, concrete and plastic-piped drains and two cultivation furrows were encountered during the topsoil-stripping. Some of the field boundary drains are shown on recent aerial photographs and maps, but none were depicted on the 1st-edition OS map of this area, suggesting that they post-date the middle of the 19th century. No archaeological features, finds or deposits were identified within or under the peat on this site.
Test pits were excavated by mini-digger at 21 locations identified in the Environmental Statement where archaeological sites or potential archaeological sites (identified during field-walking or aerial photography) might be affected by the erection of poles. In general, all pole-sets were located beside field boundaries such as hedges, banks and streams. A number of modern stone drains were identified in some of the trenches. No features, finds or deposits of an archaeological nature were observed in any of the trenches (with the exception of OM 152). Pole-set OM 152 in the townland of Killen/Lackagh was located approximately 15m north of the site of Holy Well TRY033-012, which is no longer extant, and approximately 20m south-west of a possible archaeological site identified in the Environmental Statement as a possible raised mound. The raised mound site had been quarried away many years previously to build a road, and the landowner said that several burials and deer antlers had been found during the quarrying there. A modern ceramic sherd, iron slag and a number of small ferrous metal objects (possibly nails) were found in the topsoil from this test pit.

John Cronin and Associates, 28 Upper Main Street, Buncrana, Co. Donegal