2016:731 - lands south east of17 Ballykennedy Road, Nutts Corner, Antrim

An archaeological evaluation was carried out prior to the proposed construction of a single wind turbine, an access road, a crane pad and 2 electricity cabinets on lands south-east of 17, Ballykennedy Road, Nutts Corner.
Site ANT 059:031 identified as an Early Christian Platform Rath, is located adjacent to the proposed development.
Monitoring of all ground penetrating works was conducted for the proposed development. Ground reduction works were carried out using a back-acting machine fitted with a toothless bucket to the levels of naturally occurring subsoil or archaeological strata, whichever was highest. Following exposure of the subsoil, terram was spread across the stripped areas and this was overlain with gravels.
Two features of archaeological significance were uncovered during the monitoring of the access road. A small oval-shaped pit was uncovered approximately 12m north-east of the ruined farmhouse. This feature measured 0.41m x 0.52m and was 0.18m deep. The cut had a sharp break of slope at the top and bottom with steep sloping sides and a flat base. It had a firm grey clay fill with frequent pieces of charcoal and small sub-rounded stones up to 0.06m in size. This feature is of unknown date as no artefacts were retrieved from the fill.
A shallow linear ditch was exposed roughly 20m south-east of the ruined farmhouse. This feature was on an east–west alignment and ran across the width of the access track beyond the limit of excavation. It ranged in width from 1.9-2.1m. A 2m box section was excavated through the middle of the feature which revealed that it was 0.39m deep and that the cut had a gradual break of slope at the top and bottom with gentle sloping sides and an undulating base. It had a firm grey clay fill with frequent charcoal pieces and sub-rounded stones up to 0.17m in size. The date of this feature is unknown, however it is interpreted as being either a drainage ditch or the remains of an old field boundary.
A single feature of archaeological significance was uncovered during the monitoring of works for a crane pad, turbine base and electricity cabinets. On the western side of the crane pad a ‘C’-shaped gully approximately 13.5m long was uncovered. This feature ran beyond the limit of the excavation and was only partially excavated. The southern end of this feature was heavily truncated, therefore it ranged in width from 0.22-0.61m. Five box sections were excavated though this feature. These revealed that the feature varied in depth from 0.08–0.21m. The cut for the gully had a gentle break of slope at the top and bottom with gradually sloping sides with a flat base. It had a firm grey clay fill with slight orange mottling containing charcoal flecks and small sub-rounded stones up to 0.06mm in size. No features of archaeological significance were uncovered within the area enclosed by this cut. The shape and lack of internal features suggest that this gully is a slot trench for a small fence. This may have enclosed a small area that could have been used as an animal pen.
No other archaeological deposits were uncovered during the course of the evaluation.

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