County: Antrim Site name: Skilganaban: A8 Dualling Area E14
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/12/141
Author: Johnny Barkley
Site type: Prehistoric
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 730960m, N 892644m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.764689, -5.964943
This site was part of the A8 Belfast–Larne Road Dualling Scheme, the scheme was test trenched (above No. 17, AE/12/96) and areas containing possible archaeological features were expanded to discover the extent of the archaeology. A new licence was then granted to excavate these areas, Area E14 was one of those areas.
Area E14 was situated c. 50m east of the Templepatrick Road, between the Templepatrick Road and the Belfast Road and to the south-west of the Ballynure roundabout. The site was situated on a low ridge which sloped gently down to boggy ground to the north and south.
The excavation uncovered four prehistoric circular structures within Area E14. The largest of these, Structure 1, was 15m in diameter and was constructed using large wooden posts and stakes. An internal ring of 15 large posts would have supported the roof while an outer ring of over 80 stakes formed the wall. Over 350 stake-holes covered the internal area of the structure and would have formed internal walls. Beside Structure 1 was Structure 2. Smaller than the first structure, Structure 2 was 10m in diameter and had been built using a ring of small posts to form the outer wall and stakes to create the internal walls. It appears that Structures 1 and 2 were contemporary, with the possibility that Structure 1 would have been a large house and Structure 2 an associated workshop. Structure 3 was smaller again and appears to have pre-dated Structures 1 and 2. Only part of Structure 4 was visible on site, though it appears to be of a similar size to Structure 1 and indicates that the prehistoric settlement extended into fields beyond the area of the road.
Prehistoric pottery, worked flint and a polished stone axe were uncovered, suggesting that these structures date to the Bronze Age (2000-500 BC). Currently it is believed that Structure 1 was a large house, accommodating an extended family group, with Structure 2 acting as workshop.
Post-excavation work is in progress and the full report should be available by the end of August 2013.
Skilganaban: A8 Dualling Area E14, post-excavation plan of Structures 1-4.
Skilganaban: A8 Dualling Area E14, Structure 1 post-excavation.
Skilganaban: A8 Dualling Area E14, reconstruction drawing of Structure 1.
Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, T12 7DY
