County: Tyrone Site name: Straughroy (Strathroy Link Road, Omagh)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/15/159
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry)
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 644003m, N 874025m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.612554, -7.318809
Pre-development archaeological evaluation works were undertaken from 24 August – 15 September 2015 at the proposed development site at lands between Derry Road and Strathroy Road (Strathroy Link Road), Omagh, Co. Tyrone, having been commissioned by IGSL Ltd. on behalf of their client, Transport NI/the Department for Regional Development (DRD) Roads Service (Western Division). The proposed scheme is to consist of the construction of c.0.9km of new, offline carriageway to connect the B48 Derry Road and the U1526 Strathroy Road and includes the construction of a new crossing over the River Strule.
Archaeological works in advance of construction comprised a mixture of pre-development test trenching, core sampling and strip & map works augmented with sample excavation.
Thirty-one evaluation trenches comprising a total of c.608m of linear trenching were excavated within the boundaries of the proposed development area. On-site evaluation works revealed undisturbed glacial subsoil throughout each of the trenches with the exception of Trenches 14 & 15a which were excavated within inundation (alluvial) deposits associated with the flood plain of the River Strule.
These works were augmented by a strip and map exercise targeting archaeological remains discovered during an earlier programme of test trenching at the site carried out in 2009/2010. The earlier test trenching did not investigate potential archaeological remains identified during works. Within this area, measuring approximately 120m x 43m, topsoil was removed by a back-acting mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket (Sheugh bucket) to the depth of undisturbed subsoil or the top of archaeological deposits, whichever was encountered first.
On-site evaluation works revealed limited evidence of any archaeological features, remains or deposits, in addition to evidence for activities associated with agricultural improvements.
Specifically, archaeological evidence was limited to the identification of a small number of field drains, portions of a relict field boundary and a single shallow pit within the area of Strip & Map. The pit, which was excavated, was not associated with any other archaeological features, remains or deposits, contained no dateable artefacts and is of limited archaeological significance.
150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
