2013:161 - ERRIGAL/GORT (A), Tyrone

Archaeological excavation was undertaken at Errigal and Gort, Co. Tyrone, on behalf of The Department for Regional Development, Roads Service. The works were undertaken as part of Phase 2 of the Archaeological Services Contract prior to the commencement of construction of the proposed A5 road. The site is located along Section 3 of the proposed road route. Section 3 extends from Seskinore Road in the north to Ballygawley in the south. Section 3 was the southernmost segment of the proposed development site which consists in total of 37km of new road.

Errigal/Gort A was a previously unknown archaeological site which was identified during Phase 1 archaeological work on the scheme. Phase 1 was carried out following an environmental impact statement and geophysical survey of the route (Durham 2012). In total 11,180.5m of trial trench was excavated and 29,682.5m² of strip-and-map was carried out on Section 3. Further works are proposed but could not be carried out before work on the scheme was suspended in June 2013.

Full excavation was undertaken at Errigal/Gort A. The preliminary evaluation of the findings suggests that 278 archaeological features were present, comprising a fulacht fiadh, six burnt spreads, eleven occupation/habitation layers, two charcoal-rich deposits, 77 pits, 14 linear features (including slot trenches), 44 post‐holes and 123 possible stake‐holes. For clarity and ease of discussion the site was divided into five areas, A-E.

A fulacht fiadh was identified in Area A. It comprised a burnt mound with an associated underlying layer of peat, a trough and 4 pits. In addition, two further deposits or spreads of burnt material were identified. A further burnt spread or possible palaeochannel was also noted to the north of the burnt mound. A blade/arrowhead and a flint core were recovered during the initial hand cleaning of the area.

A prehistoric settlement site, currently interpreted as being Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age in date, was identified in Area B. The site was located at the base of a south‐east facing slope with an area of wetland to the south-east, and the Glenhoy stream situated approximately 100m to the east. The excavated features consisted of a habitation or occupation spread and associated pit, eleven slot trenches/linear features, 15 pits, 22 possible post-holes and 14 stake‐holes.

The initial clean‐back of Area C identified the truncated remains of a fulacht fiadh, associated pits and possible evidence of a structure. The excavated features consisted of a fulacht fiadh/burnt spread, three occupation spreads, 6 post-holes, 44 stake‐holes, 22 sub‐circular pits, 6 irregularly shaped pits and three modern land drains.

Further evidence of prehistoric activity was revealed within Areas D.1 to D.3. The excavated features consisted of a burnt spread within Area D.1; four pits, two charcoal-rich deposits, 4 possible post-holes and 6 stake‐holes within D.2; and five possible occupation areas, 15 pits, 8 post-holes and 14 stake‐holes within Area D.3.

Area E identified a cluster of stake‐holes, two large irregular-shaped deposits, nine pits and four post-holes of uncertain date.