2012:164 - BONECASTLE: 79 Vianstown Road, Down

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at the site of a proposed new residential development at 79 Vianstown Road, Bonecastle, Downpatrick, Co. Down. The development area is in the local vicinity of a site known as ‘Bonecastle’, of which there are no visible remains (DOW037-041). The application site occupies an area of grassland behind a derelict single storey house which is to be demolished prior to construction of the new residence. Four test trenches were opened (total area approx. 126m2). These were void of archaeological features with the exception of a stone-lined field drain and a shallow curvilinear feature with no associated artefacts. All artefact material was retrieved from the topsoil of one trench and was of 20th-21st-century date. It is unlikely that the planned residential development will impact upon previously unrecognized and unrecorded archaeological remains.