County: Antrim Site name: BALLYDOWN, ISLANDMAGEE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: AE/13/55
Author: Vincent McClorey, Archaeological Development Services Ltd,
Site type: PITS AND SPREADS
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 343266m, N 400742m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.834170, -5.765000
This development related to the proposed construction of gas storage facilities at Island Magee in County Antrim. The work associated with this development is to be carried out in three phases with only the first phase of work completed to date. This consisted of the preparation and construction of the well pad at Ballydown, located within the south-western end of the development, and the creation of an access road running through green fields to a farm laneway running to Mill Bay Road.
There are 14 recorded archaeological sites within a 1km-wide search corridor of the development. Additionally, previous investigations have uncovered activity dating from prehistory to the medieval period within the townland of Ballydown.
Monitoring was conducted during these Phase 1 works. A total of eight pits and six spreads were uncovered. Additionally, struck flints were recovered from three of the pits and from two of the spreads. Only three of the pits were found within close proximity of one another, while the remaining features were found in isolation. It is possible that the archaeology uncovered is evidence of transient activity close to the shore line where natural resources were being utilised in antiquity.
96 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
