County: Derry Site name: Drumahoe
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/12/64
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 646826m, N 915394m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.983957, -7.268433
Pre-development testing was undertaken from 6–8 June 2012 at a proposed development site at Fincairn Road, Drumahoe, Co. Derry in association with a Planning Application for the development of the site for a residential development of 44 dwellings with associated landscaping and car parking and all necessary associated site works including connection to existing services.
A total of c. 1,800m of linear trenching was excavated within the area of proposed invasive groundworks. A small subsoil-cut pit and probable post-hole were identified within the north-west portion of the site. An additional area of c. 625m2 surrounding these two features was stripped of topsoil to provide additional information regarding the extent of archaeological remains within the site. However, no further archaeological features or deposits were identified, although a flint scraper was recovered from the topsoil approximately 85m south of the features referred to above.
In addition, extensive evidence of “lazy beds”, presumably for potato cultivation, was identified throughout the low-lying portion of the development area. Evidence for this form of arable cultivation comprised parallel furrows, each approximately 0.5–0.8m wide, spaced at intervals of approximately 2–2.5m. Narrow drainage channels, 0.15–0.25m wide, were also identified in association with the furrows. Only traces of the ridges which would have formed part of the scheme were apparent.
No further archaeological features were noted during evaluation works at the site.
FarrimondMacManus Ltd, 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL
