County: Derry Site name: BENONE/MAGILLIGAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSYTEM
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/12/21
Author: Jonathan Barkley
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 667371m, N 936454m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.170785, -6.942525
The development involves the upgrading of the current pipeline from Drumavally to Benone and Magilligan to the Seacoast Road. Along with the pipeline, a new Wastewater Treatment Works will be constructed at Magilligan, the construction of a new pumping station at Drumavally on the site of the current Wastewater Pumping Station, and a new pumping station at Aughil on the site of the current Terminal Pumping Station.
The depth of the topsoil varied between 0.1m and 0.3m. Underlying the topsoil was fine clean sand; no archaeological material was uncovered. Several test pits within the area were also monitored. These pits measured 2m2 and were machine excavated to the water table (approximately 2.5m). No archaeological material was uncovered. During the course of the monitoring it was clear that the ground had been heavily disturbed during manoeuvres by the Army (Ministry of Defence site nearby) and laterally by the large amount of rabbits present. If any archaeological material had been present it is likely to have been destroyed prior to the construction of the Treatment Works.
Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, T12 7DY
