2015:531 - Bentra Road, Forthill, Ballycarry, Antrim

An archaeological evaluation was carried out prior to the proposed insertion of a water main along the Bentra Road, Ballycarry. As part of the works, the main will extend along a lane and across open ground adjacent to Templecoran church (ANT 047:010).
The monitoring of the pipe trench and associated works uncovered relatively little in way of archaeological remains. The only exception to this was the ditch terminal or pit [004] uncovered within the grass-covered field on the eastern side of the proposed works. As this was found to only partially project into the stripped pipe corridor it is impossible to determine with certainty the nature of the feature. Its extent (6m wide) could indicate to it being the terminal of an enclosure ditch associated with the enclosure (ANT 47:68) at Templecorran, extending around its eastern and northern sides. However, it should be noted that the portion of the pipe trench within the car park and laneway would have crossed the northern extent of such an enclosure ditch at some point along its course. No such feature was found and either [004] represents a large pit, or any enclosure ditch at this point was intermittent in nature. This may have been due to the presence of bedrock at a high level, and by chance, the pipe trench was dug at a point where bedrock precluded the digging of an enclosure ditch.

No further archaeological remains were uncovered within the trench, and with the exception of a relatively recently infilled natural hollow in the car park, the natural bedrock was found, for the most part, at a relatively shallow depth.

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