2012:590 - Shannaragh, Tyrone

A series of excavations were carried out as part of the 2.3km realignment of the A32 Shannaragh Road in Co. Tyrone. Linear test trenching under licence AE/11/81 by Vincent McClorey and David Kilner (Excavations 2011, No. 591) was carried out in 2011. However, no features of archaeological potential were identified. The four areas subject to excavation were identified during the monitoring of topsoil stripping and subject to excavation between 2 April and 10 May 2012.
Shannaragh 1a was characterised by a trackway formed by a poorly-preserved arrangement of roundwoods, roughly orientated east-west and located c. 10m south-west of Area 1b. The primary deposit of the trackway was made up of roundwood. Poorly humified fen peat had accumulated around this roundwood. Thin lenses of fine sand were noted through the peat which was probably the result of small flooding episodes. Above this was a more substantial deposit of wood that is thought to have been the surface of the trackway. Several substantial, but poorly preserved stakes were noted within this layer. Seven worked brushwood ends were recovered. Of these, one had a wedge point, one had a pencil point and the remainder had chisel points. The upper layer of wood was composed of a several roundwoods and three worked brushwood ends lying horizontally. This trackway may have been used to access the platform and burnt mound excavated in Area 1b to the south-west.
Shannaragh 1b was characterised by a portion of a burnt mound and a wooden platform. Part of a wooden-lined trough was exposed at the eastern limit of the area. This trough lining was composed of nine radially split timbers and extended beyond the limit of excavation to the east. The eastern end of the trough was not encountered during the monitoring of the excavation of a drain c. 2m further east. Beneath the wooden trough lining was a layer of clay which may have been used as a seal due to the presence of peat directly below this. Several stakes were identified below this wooden lining. Black silt clay containing heat-affected stones covered this trough. A second similar deposit of burnt mound material was located in the north-east of the site. A thick layer of peat separated these burnt mound layers suggesting a significant temporal gap between phases of use.
A wooden platform was identified to the west of this burnt mound activity, which was formed from brushwood overlying stakes and roundwood. Seven worked elements were recovered from the roundwood at the bottom of the platform. Of these one had a wedge point while the remainder had chisel points. Five of the timbers showed evidence of heavy charring, possibly indicating a use prior to being incorporated into the platform. A broken wooden paddle or shovel was also recovered.
Shannaragh 2 consisted of two areas of disturbed burnt mound spreads. In the south-west of the site a layer of burnt mound material was covered by a light grey clay. These spreads had been truncated to the south by a rectangular pit which contained compact pink gravel. The second area of spreads was located c. 10m to the north-east. Two layers of burnt mound material and a white yellow silt clay had been truncated by a thin spread of compact pink gravel. The two deposits of burnt mound material may have originally been a single spread.
Shannaragh 3 was characterised by prehistoric occupation located along the southern bank of the Owenreagh River, a tributary of the Foyle. The archaeological remains consisted of a series of spreads, pits, a mettled surface and two hearths. Activity in the west of the site was formed by a hearth containing charred hazelnut shells associated with a short tapered gully and a spread. A further hearth was excavated nearby as was a pit containing charcoal-rich deposits which may have represented the base of a temporary structure. A spread to the east of this was cut by eight small pits. Two pits located towards the north and north-east of the site were covered by a spread of brown clay silt. In the east of the site several spreads of silt clay were excavated, one of which contained a late Mesolithic siltstone Moynagh Point. In the north-west of the site a line of stones that continued beyond the limit of the excavation and a possible mettled surface up to 1.7m in diameter were excavated on top of two spreads of material and underneath a further spread. A small pit truncated the later spread. Flint artefacts were recovered from a number of features at the site and a late Mesolithic butt–trimmed flake was recovered during monitoring works nearby.
Shannaragh 4 consisted of a single kiln, which was uncovered on a south-facing slope, close to TYR042-002, a rath. This is registered as a counterscarp rath, overlooking the Owenreagh River. A thin layer of scorched clay and charcoal was noted at the base of the kiln which was covered by a mottled brown sandy clay. A possible flu was located to the south. The purpose of this kiln is unclear but it is possible that it is associated with the rath.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.