2015:230 - Killyneese 2, Derry

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Derry Site name: Killyneese 2

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/15/32

Author: Camilla Brannstrom

Site type: Prehistoric settlement

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 691746m, N 891970m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.767327, -6.574268

Killyneese 2 was one of 11 sites excavated as part of the advanced works for the A31 Magherafelt Bypass. The excavation followed on from Trial Trenching and initial work for Strip/Map sample excavation undertaken by Fintan Walsh under licence AE/14/232. The site was uncovered during Strip/Map works in Area P. A geophysical survey, undertaken by Earthsound Geophysics under licence AE/14/113, highlighted an arcing magnetic trend of possible archaeological origin and several linear trends. Numerous archaeological features were encountered, in particular along the western half of the area. These comprised 38 miscellaneous pits and post-holes as well as two curvilinear gullies, two linear gullies and two field boundaries.

The curvilinear gully was located to the west of Killyneese 2. Its remains appeared to have been heavily truncated leaving the lower part of the feature in situ. The basal fill contained 88 pieces of flint and 30 sherds of late Neolithic Grooved Ware pottery. Thirty-eight additional features were excavated within Killyneese 2. These were an assortment of irregular pits and post-holes. Several features contained charcoal-rich deposits and one feature contained four sherds of prehistoric pottery. These features did not display an obviously discernible pattern.

At the time of writing, post-excavation analysis had yet to begin.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy, 23-31 Waring St, Belfast, BT1 2DX