2015:124 - POMEROY: Gortscraheen (Crockbrack)/Lime Hill, Tyrone

From mid-February to mid-March 2015, the hardstand, assembly area, and access track within the Gortscraheen (Crockbrack) wind farm development were stone surfaced; mechanical excavation and archaeological monitoring ceased during this period. The excavation licence (AE/14/132) expired at the end of February 2015, and when mechanical excavation commenced in mid-March 2015, on a laneway accessing both the Gortscraheen (Crockbrack) and Cregganconroe wind farm site entrance, a new excavation licence (AE/15/61) was acquired. Monitoring took 1 month to complete.

Mechanical excavation began on 16 March 2015 and continued until mid-April. The new area of excavation was located directly north of the Loughmallon road at the southernmost aspect of the Cregganconroe wind farm scheme. Excavation involved the utilisation and upgrading of c. 325m of laneway orientated north-south, that exited onto the Loughmallon road, and which headed north to the Gortscraheen (Crockbrack) and Cregganconroe wind farm site entrance.

Development works consisted of upgrading and excavating the existing laneway by increasing its width, as well as upgrading drains, landscaping, and inserting cabling and water ducts.

No archaeological features or artefacts were revealed through monitoring associated with the excavation and all monitoring was carried out as per the recommendations of the Archaeological Programme of Works.