2015:533 - 61 Derry Road, Strabane, Tyrone

An archaeological evaluation was carried out prior to the proposed creation of a new campus by the Western Education and Library Board for Strabane Academy, 61 Derry Road, Strabane,Co. Tyrone. A recorded monument, TYR 005:013, is located immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site and is identified on the SMR as a rath. As part of a pre-application planning process, the evaluation was conducted to assess the development area for remains relating to TYR 005:013.
A total of 5 test trenches were positioned as close to the monument as possible in order to provide the best chance of identifying any remains. The extent of the trenches was hampered by the presence of overhead power lines. All trenches were excavated using a back-acting machine fitted with a toothless bucket.
In Trench 2 A single feature consisting of a modern drain was identified extending across the trench at its eastern end.
The purpose of the evaluation was to establish whether any remains relating to monument TYR 005:013 survived within the development area. From an inspection of the monument it was clear that no upstanding remains extended into the development area. The monument survives as a platform extending out from the westerly-facing slope. The result of this is a monument some 5m above the natural ground surface on its downslope (westerly side). Given the scale of the monument on this side, it seems unlikely that there would have been an enclosing ditch here and there is certainly no surface expression of such a feature. The excavation of the test trenches confirmed that no sub-surface deposits relating to the monument extend into the area of the development. It is likely that the surviving upstanding remains represent the actual limits of the site.
No archaeological deposits were identified during the course of the evaluation.

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