County: Derry Site name: Killyneese 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/15/36
Author: Camilla Brannstrom
Site type: Burnt spread and trough
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 691788m, N 891884m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.766546, -6.573643
Killyneese 3 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 trial trenching when a spread of heat-fractured stones and charcoal-rich material was recorded in Trench 240. The site comprised a large trough with associated stake-holes, a burnt mound spread, five large circular pits, two large linear features and a number of small pits, post-holes and stake-holes. The trough was sub-rectangular and measured 2.7m x 1.5m x 0.7m. A narrowing towards the centre of the cut may have acted as a possible sluice gate allowing the trough to be quickly filled and emptied. Stake-holes identified at the base of the trough may reflect the remnants of a wooden structure. Several other stake-holes formed a curvilinear arch at the southern end of the trough, and may represent a screen or other structural element. This trough was filled with a charcoal-rich silty clay with burnt stone inclusions and contained four pieces of flint.
The burnt mound spread covered most of the archaeological features to the north of Killyneese 3. This material comprised the make-up of many of the deposits in this area and was a charcoal-rich silty clay with burnt clay and burnt stone inclusions. Five large bowl-shaped pits were located to the north of the site. They were filled with material very similar in composition to the burnt mound spread. Two large linear pits were located to the south of the site.
At the time of writing, post-excavation analysis had yet to begin.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy, 23-31 Waring St, Belfast, BT1 2DX
