2012:574 - Melmount Road, Ballyfatten, Tyrone

The proposed development is located at lands between the Melmount Road, Strabane, at west and the Mourne River to east. The site currently consists of four fields which, in total, measure approximately 725m south-west/north-east by 300m at its widest point. The current development proposal provides for the construction of an industrial park and associated services within the western portion of the site. It is not proposed to develop the flood plain and scarp areas along the eastern site boundary.
An evaluation was undertaken over a six-week period commencing on 24 August 2009 by Chris Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd, with regards to a proposed development at Melmount Road, Strabane (Excavations 2009, No. 780, AE/09/129). The evaluation consisted of the excavation of a series of strategically placed test trenches across the entire development site. The results of test trenching identified two main areas of archaeological potential located within the southern and northern portions of the site in the form of subsoil-cut ditches, gullies and pits with two further areas of archaeological potential within the central portion of the site. A possible enclosure and occupation activity survived within Field 1. Within Field 2, the remains of a possible storage pit survived, indicating activity within the western portion of the site. Field 4 contained further evidence of activity in the form of a possible enclosing ditch with associated activity and remains of a possible foundation gully for a 7m wide structure.
While no dateable artefacts were recovered from any of the deposits identified during the evaluation, the types of remains uncovered suggest that at least some of the archaeological activity at the site may date from the prehistoric period.
Following completion of test trenching a programme of targeted monitoring of topsoil stripping was undertaken from 21–31 May 2012. Preliminary topsoil stripping works were carried out within those areas of the site where features, remains or deposits were identified during evaluation works in August – September 2009 and included a c. 10m buffer zone surrounding those remains which had already been identified.
Subsequently, excavation works were undertaken over a period of 7 weeks during July-August 2012 in those areas of the site were archaeological features, remains or deposits had been identified. Excavation works revealed the existence of extensive archaeological remains within the northern, western and southern portions of the development site consisting of dispersed occupation activity within several discrete areas of the site. Preliminary results suggest that several probable corn-drying kilns and associated charcoal-production pits were identified in addition to a possible temporary habitation structure. Finds recovered from the site were minimal and comprise topsoil finds of lithic material.

FarrimondMacManus Ltd, 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.