2012:160 - Dromore Street, Ballynahinch, Down

The development site was situated to the rear of Nos 30-32 Dromore Street, Ballynahinch. The controlled demolition and removal of the majority of the outbuildings within the area had been carried out and the site was available for archaeological investigation which took place on 12 December 2012. In discussions with the developer it was pointed out that the existing surface would not be disturbed and in fact, at certain locations, would be raised rather than reduced. Consequently, as the proposed work would not expose the undisturbed subsoil or impact on any surviving archaeological remains, it was decided to carry out minimal investigation in the form of two newly-cut trial pits (Trial pits 1 and 2) and clean-up of the base of a removed meal bin (Trial pit 3).

Trial pit 1 was excavated along the line of the outbuilding foundation at the west limit of the site. The subsoil was encountered at a depth of 0.31m and consisted of silty grey/brown glacial till (boulder clay) with many small stones. The subsoil was overlaid by a 0.18m-thick layer of compact, dark-brown clay which in turn was overlaid by a 0.11m-thick layer of tarmacadam. The concrete foundation of the removed outbuilding was exposed on the west side of the trench and measured 0.11m thick. No archaeological features or artefacts were observed during the excavation.

Trial pit 2 was excavated along the line of the upstanding outbuilding at the south-west limit of the site. The subsoil was encountered at a depth of 0.57m and consisted of silty grey glacial till (boulder clay) with occasional small stones. The subsoil was overlaid by a 0.15m-thick layer of compact, dark-brown clay which in turn was overlaid by a 0.22m-thick layer of medium-sized to large stones beneath a 0.09m-thick setting of small stones in blue clay. Above this earlier surface lay the 0.11m-thick layer of tarmacadam found in Trial pit 1. The concrete foundation of the outbuilding was exposed on the south side of the trench and measured 0.24m thick. No archaeological features or artefacts were observed during the excavation.

Trial pit 3 was excavated within the foundation pit of a removed meal bin towards the south limit of the site. An outcrop of bedrock, consisting of shale, was revealed immediately below the concrete surface which had been laid directly onto the silty glacial till subsoil. No archaeological features or artefacts were observed during the excavation.

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