2012:584 - DESERTCREAT, Tyrone

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tyrone Site name: DESERTCREAT

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/12/82

Author: Peter Bowen

Site type: MULTI-PERIOD

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 680616m, N 872926m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.598164, -6.752433

Excavations are currently being undertaken at Desertcreat, just south of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. The development relates to a multi-disciplinary college campus which involves large scale groundworks as well as landscaping, planting, services and infrastructure. An initial phase of testing was conducted in January 2012 under licence AE/11/132 (above No. 583), with a second much larger phase of testing in August 2012.
The results of the two phases of testing revealed potential archaeological deposits across much of the development site. In total there are 140 areas which have been identified for further investigation, excavation and resolution. These excavation works began in October 2012 and are presently ongoing with initial indications that much of the remains are of prehistoric origin. Among the archaeological remains investigated so far are a large, 16m across, slot-defined enclosure or structure, possibly of Bronze Age date, a second U-shaped enclosure, two probable post-built circular structures, currently undated, traces of several small burnt mound spreads, one partially wood-lined trough, the remains of two stone-built vernacular farm buildings of likely 19th-century origin, and numerous small pits and post-holes. The artefacts recovered are mainly prehistoric in date, with struck flint dominating, and several hundred sherds of prehistoric pottery. The remains of a small carved wooden bowl have also been recovered.
The excavations are due to continue for sometime yet with at least one further prehistoric structure to be investigated. A fuller report will be complied and included into next year’s bulletin.

Archaeological Development Services Ltd, 96 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.