2013:466 - DESERTCREAT, DRUMRAW AND DOWNS, Tyrone

The proposed development relates to the construction of a multi-disciplinary college campus at Desertcreat, south of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. The development will involve large scale groundworks as well as landscaping, planting, services and infrastructure. A total of three phases of on-site works were conducted by ADS Ltd who had been commissioned by WYG Environmental and Planning (NI) Ltd on behalf of their client, NI Policing Board.

Phase 1 of the archaeological works consisted of a programme of testing in one field of the site. This work was undertaken in January 2012 under licence AE/11/132.  This testing was to assess the efficiency of geophysical survey in identifying sub-surface archaeological remains within the proposed development and enable NIEA to decide how best to proceed with the archaeological requirement for the overall development, and to design a suitable mitigation strategy. A total of 23 test trenches were excavated across the area selected for testing to determine the veracity of an earlier geophysical survey which had identified several potential archaeological features, including a possible large D-shaped enclosure. There was also an enclosure recorded as being within the testing area in the SMR (TYR038-032). Archaeological deposits, comprising of a curving slot trench, along with a fulacht fiadh and small pits, were uncovered within the trenches, as were numerous agricultural features.  The testing showed that many of the responses recorded by geophysical survey, including the large D-shaped enclosure, were a result of variations within the natural geology. None of the identified archaeological deposits were subject to full excavation during the Phase 1 testing.

Following consultation with NIEA, and in light of the results of the Phase 1 testing, a second phase of testing was undertaken in August 2012 under licence AE/12/82. The trenches were mechanically excavated under supervision. The Phase 2 testing regime comprised of trenches placed either 15m or 30m apart, with the spacing of the trenches dependent upon the proposed use for each area of the development. In areas of buildings and ground works, trenches were set 15m apart while areas of planting had trenches placed 30m apart. In those areas within the development which were not to be disturbed, no archaeological testing was required by NIEA. A total of 22653.39m (22.6km) of test trenches were excavated, which revealed numerous areas of archaeological potential, although several fields appeared to be archaeologically sterile.

The combined results of the Phase 1 and 2 testing was then used to devise a mitigation strategy, in consultation with NIEA, for the excavation of the potential archaeological remains during the Phase 3 works on the site.

The Phase 3 excavation works began in October 2012 and lasted until September 2013. This phase of works was conducted under licence AE/12/82. Originally 114 smaller areas, ranging from 10m by 10m up to 25m by 25m were to be investigated, along with four much larger areas, where there appeared to be somewhat more extensive scattering of potential archaeological remains. A 5m buffer zone of archaeologically sterile subsoil was also to be obtained around each area. However, after further considerations with NIEA, it was decided that only those areas with significant archaeological remains would be extended while the four large areas were sub-divided into 27 smaller areas, each concentrated on locations where it was suspected significant remains, such as structures, may have existed. This resulted in a total of 140 areas to have been excavated while a further area was added to the overall total following additional testing undertaken while the Phase 3 excavation works were ongoing. Further changes to the overall design of the proposed development resulted in four of these areas remaining un-excavated as they would not be disturbed by the development works, although three of these had already been topsoil stripped, prior to the change in design. A total of 137 areas of archaeological remains were fully excavated, three areas were cleaned and planned before being backfilled, with the archaeological remains preserved in situ, and a single area remained unstripped and un-investigated.

The results of the excavation indicated that there was evidence for relatively extensive low-scale activity across much of the development, interspersed with areas of greater intensity and significance. This included evidence for four enclosures, up to nine structures, eight areas of burnt mound related activity, a single (disturbed) cremation, two kilns (one for drying cereal, the other for lime production), three vernacular buildings, two of them excavated. Extensive pitting was also found across much of the site. Where dated, much of this activity was clearly prehistoric in date, with most perhaps of Bronze Age origin. It cannot be ruled out however, that some earlier Neolithic activity is present, while the presence of iron slag and iron items, including a knife from Area 126-134, and a rotary quern fragment from Area 33 clearly indicates much later activity.

 

Enclosure Activity

The four enclosures were uncovered in Areas 10-12, 81, 122, and 124. In Areas 10- 12, a semi-circular enclosure was excavated. This consisted of a shallow slot-type feature defining a semi-circular area with a maximum diameter of 27m. The slot was non-continuous, with no trace that it existed to the east or south-east. A concentration of post-holes and a small number of shallow windbreak-type features were found within the enclosure. The only artefacts recovered were a small number of sherds of probable prehistoric pottery from two post-holes. There was no evidence for uprights within the slot, though it is presumed that the slot would have held some form of fencing, possibly wattling. The non-continuous nature of the slot suggests that the enclosure was not defensive in nature, but rather was used to demarcate one area from another. This could simply have been to define an area of habitation or work from animal activity or simply to denote the boundary between an area of damper ground to the west of the enclosure from the dryer area within.

In Area 87 a circular, slot-defined enclosure measuring some 16-17m in diameter with associated internal features, mostly pits and posts, was excavated. The presence of regular posts within the defining slot, and the general deep nature of the slot, indicated that it had supported a palisade/wall that was fairly extensive in nature. Three entrances were recorded, one to the north-east at 5.2m wide, one at the south-west at 0.5m wide and one at the south-east at 4.2m wide. The south-eastern entrance was associated with two post-holes, one of which was placed mid-causeway, suggesting a gate or formal entrance structure here, while the north-eastern entrance had two internal post-holes, suggesting a type of internal ‘porch’. Extensive pitting was noted within the enclosure and while no evidence of any internal structures were observed, the artefactual remains would suggest a domestic element to the site, of probable Bronze Age date. It is unclear if the enclosure had been roofed, though certainly it is possible, given the number of internal pits and post-holes, however if it had, given its large size, it is unlikely to have been a domestic habitation structure, but may have had a communal function or even acted as an animal corral.

A post-defined enclosure was uncovered in Area 122 again of probable Bronze Age date. The enclosure was a wide U-shape in plan, open to the west. The arms of the enclosure formed an almost funnel shape, narrowing towards the entrance at the east. The enclosure had maximum dimensions of 14.5m south-east/north-west, running from the entrance to the open western side by 15.8m wide between the ends of the northern and southern arms. It narrowed towards the entrance, to just 6.8m, while the entrance itself, defined by two post-holes, measured just 0.85m across. This shape would have been ideal to allow for the management of livestock herds by driving animals into the open western end and forcing them to exit through the narrow entrance. This would make it possible to select certain animals and separate them from the herd, perhaps for butchering, maybe even to remove old or sick animals, or to simply examine and mark the herd. A large number of pits and post-holes were uncovered within the enclosure though no actual structures were uncovered.

The final enclosure, in Area 124, was rectangular and defined by a continuous steep sided 1m wide ditch. This enclosure measured 9m by 11m across with little evidence for internal activity. There had been extensive truncation of the enclosure ditch and no trace of any entrance was uncovered. While presently undated, it is felt possible that this enclosure may be Early Christian or later in date.

 

Structural Remains

Evidence for up to nine structures (not including vernacular buildings), were uncovered on the site. Four of these were located in Area 126-136 (Field F). The largest of these structures, in Area 126-134, was a slot-defined roundhouse, measuring between 9-10m in diameter. It comprised of an outer wall slot, delineating the extent of the roundhouse, with an entrance at the south-east, an internal ring of nine roof supporting post-holes, a central hearth, a series of internal pits set mostly around the inner edge of the wall slot and 408 stake-holes. The stake-holes concentrated in the eastern half of the roundhouse, between the hearth and entrance, while the pits extended partially around the inner side of the wall slot beginning just within either side of the entrance. There was much less activity in the west-north-western side of the roundhouse, and it is presumed that this indicates an area of bedding. Once the roundhouse had fulfilled its usefulness, it was abandoned, with the entrance being deliberately blocked, and the structure either burned or allowed to decay. The nature of this deliberate blocking of the entrance hints that the structure may have been symbolically taken out of use. Two smaller post-built structures and a potential post- and stake-hole structure were uncovered. One of these post-built structures consisted of eight post-holes, defining a small sub-circular building measuring 5.3m east-west by 4.85m. Curving around the southern and western outer edge of the building were five pits, while at the north-east was an arced setting of 19 stake-holes. The second post-built structure was defined by a series of 10 post-holes defining a sub-circular area measuring 6.3m across (max).  The posts were set at irregular intervals, varying between 1.5m up to 2.25m. A possible entrance could be located at the south-east, where the largest gap existed between posts. Although no traces of walling survived, it is presumed that the structure would have had some form of walling running between the posts. The potential post- and stake-hole structure comprised of a series of parallel curving features: a short section of slot, two curving settings of stake-holes, and an arced setting of four post-holes. A series of large intercutting pits, two of which contained evidence that they held substantial wooden uprights, with one partially surviving in situ, lay immediately to the south-west, while further remains lay within the general vicinity.

A further 7.5m diameter circular post-built structure was uncovered in Area 46 (Field A) defined by ten post-holes spaced approximately 2m apart. No definitive entrance was located although this may have been to the south-east between two of the larger posts. Internally a total of five post-holes were uncovered while a number of small pits were found in the area immediately beyond the structure. Based upon artefactual evidence this structure was of probable Bronze Age origin.

Traces of a potential, though somewhat dubious slot-defined structure, was located in Area 117 (Field C).The slot was heavily truncated however, surviving in two segments. No further related remains to this potential structure were found, but given the level of truncation it is possible that they could have been removed in their entirety. The slot could be followed for 9m in length, though due to agricultural disturbance, there was a 3m break in the feature. It had a terminal at the north-west, continued south-east for 3.5m, pivoted almost ninety degrees and continued 5.5m before terminating at the south-west. It survived to a maximum depth of just 0.1m. It was filled with moderate dark brown loamy organic silt. The area was extended to the south-west to establish whether the curvilinear slot was part of a larger structure, but no further structural remains were identified. No artefacts were recovered.

A further post-built structure was partially exposed in Area 1 (Field R) with the presence of iron slag indicative of a possible Iron Age or later origin. The exposed remains of the structure consisted of a total of 16 features, all of them post-holes. Seven of these formed the arms of an east-facing entrance porch, with a further nine posts probably representing internal roof supports. A further two post-holes, located to the west, may have been related to the structure. No definitive outer walling to the structure was uncovered and is presumed to have been truncated. As this area was located within an area of planting, any further remains beyond the extent of the excavated area were preserved in situ.

Another potential structure was denoted by a curving slot in Area 33 (Field G), perhaps the truncated remains of a once larger structure. The curving slot measured 12.2m by 0.65m (max) by 0.28m deep (max) and arced from the east, through north-east and north, before terminating at the south-west. The cut of the slot had rounded terminals, and sides that were generally steep though occasionally more gentle, which sloped to a concave base. At the north-north-west there was a 2.3m long section where the slot was so badly truncated that it survived only as a slight shadow in the subsoil. It is unclear whether the recorded extent of the slot represents the original dimensions of the feature and is a simple windbreak or if it was part of what had originally been a small circular structure. It had certainly been truncated at the north and north-west and although the area was extended to determine whether further traces existed at the south, none were found. If the recorded slot was originally part of a much larger circular structure, extrapolation of the slot suggests that such a structure would have been just less than 8m in width. Within its fill it contained a rotary quern fragment, implying that it could date from the Early Christian period or later.

The final potential structure was noted in Area 137 though this was preserved in situ without any excavation taking place. This comprised of a curving slot which partially encircled a concentration of post-holes, stake-holes and a hearth. No artefacts were found within this area.

 

Burnt Mound Activity

The burnt mound related activity was recorded in eight separate areas, all occurring on lower lying slopes adjacent to boggy or waterlogged areas. This activity is undated though it is speculated that much of it dates to the Bronze Age. Four areas, 82 and 89 in Field V, Area 102 in Field P and Area 109 in Field Q, were located on opposite sides of a small low-lying boggy area. Further burnt mound related activity was recorded in Areas 19, 45, 59 and 69-70. In Area 45 (Field A) the remains included a 5m-across artificial pool with evidence for a small wooden platform to allow water to be gathered for use in a neighbouring 3.75m by 1.5m wide trough. A carved wooden bowl and an antler were recovered from the artificial pool. Several further large pits and troughs were also excavated in this area.  In Area 82, the remains comprised of a small burnt spread, but with no evidence for a trough. In all the other remaining areas, troughs were uncovered, including a partially wood-lined example in Area 59, although in Areas 45, 69-70, 102, and 109 there was either no, or very little trace of an associated burnt mound. In these cases it is presumed that later agricultural activity resulted in the truncation of any associated burnt mounds.

 

Pitting Activity

Evidence for pitting was found across much of the site. To a large extent this comprised of relatively isolated single or small groups of features, the majority of which are undated. In several areas however, there were much more extensive groupings of pits, most notably in Areas 93, 122, and 126-134, and to a lesser extent in Areas 118-120. These areas were located at the centre of the site, basically bordering or adjoining each other in a relatively flat, sheltered setting and suggest that this locale was the focus for intensive activity, much, though not all of it, prehistoric. As noted above, four structures were recorded in Area 126-134, while a U-shaped enclosure was excavated in Area 122. Evidence for land division, in the form of stake-hole alignments, was recorded in Areas 118-120 and 126-134 which appears contemporary to the prehistoric activity. Where dating evidence exists (pottery, flint) the majority of the pits appear to be prehistoric in date, though some later pits with iron objects were found in Area 126-134. With the exception of the storage pits associated with Structures 1 and 2 in Area 126-134, the majority of the pits appear fairly random in nature. Many of the pits were clearly used for refuse, others to hold small fires, and some were likely quarry pits. A small group of pits in Area 126-134 (Pit Group 1) stood out from the general morass of pitting. These contained similar fills with both pottery and flint present, with one also having a saddle quern placed against one edge. The similarity of the pits and their contents is felt indicative of some form of structured deposition, and that these pits may have had a ritual aspect to their use.

 

Funerary Activity

There was little in the way for burial activity recorded on site. At only two locations, one in Area 92, the other in Area 126-134, was there clear evidence for funerary related activity. In Area 92 a single cremation was excavated along with a small number of pits. The cremation had been heavily disturbed by roots, but had clearly been placed in a pit either unprotected or in an organic container which had decayed. Nothing datable was recovered from the cremation, nor from any of the pits in the area, though at present a Bronze Age or Iron Age date is likely. The second evidence for burial was uncovered in Area 126-134, where a probable grave cut was excavated. This reflected a different burial tradition to the cremation in Area 92. In this case the body would have been lain out within the grave cut and then buried, though no actual skeletal remains survived. This lack of survival is likely due to soil conditions resulting in the complete disintegration of all bone. The orientation of this grave cut was slightly off an east-west alignment and may suggest the burial was Early Christian or later in origin.

 

Vernacular Buildings

Two vernacular buildings were excavated on site, one each at Areas 28 and 81. No above ground trace of either building was present prior to the commencement of site works and both had been heavily disturbed, probably through the robbing of stone for other buildings. A small complex of three vernacular buildings was present at the centre of the site and subject to a building survey in advance of their removal. All of these vernacular buildings were recorded on the First Edition OS map of 1834 though no evidence to date their actual construction was uncovered. They represent small farm buildings, and all were abandoned by the early decades of the 20^th century.

In general the excavations at Desertcreat have revealed extensive archaeological deposits across much of the site. On the basis of artefactual remains, the bulk of this would appear to be prehistoric in date, with the majority being related to Bronze Age activity, though it is clear that some of the remains also date from other periods. Indeed, it is even plausible that the remains excavated on the site could indicate a continuation of settlement and exploitation of the immediate area from the prehistoric right up to modern times.  The number of structures and enclosures indicates the exploitation of the immediate landscape, and it is even possible that some of the structures and enclosures could have been inhabited at the same time. When a general overview of the site is taken, it is likely that it could provide a microcosm into society in the locale from more than one period, with settlement, agricultural, industrial and perhaps ritual elements all represented. This should be clarified once the final post-excavation analysis and dating has been completed.

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