2016:380 - Glenshane Road Quarry, Claudy (Clagan td.), Derry

The area measured 60m by 30m north-east to south-west and contained four defined structures. These included a Late Neolithic ritual site, which consisted of a ring of large posts (Structure 2) with an outer fenced forecourt (Structure 4). Within Structure 2 were a number of posts, pits and stake-holes and within Structure 4 were also a large number of pits and post-holes. To the north-east of Structures 2 and 4 was a later Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age post and stake-built roundhouse (Structure 1) with a contemporary smaller four-post structure to the north-west (Structure 3), as well as at least two working areas comprised of hearths, pits, gullies and stake-holes. There was also one isolated cremation burial which dated to the Early Neolithic and a small number of undated token cremation deposits.

Early Neolithic cremation pit and token cremation deposits

The cremation pit was circular and measured 0.75m in diameter by 0.35m deep. The basal fill contained the cremated bone, as well as occasional lumps and flecks of charcoal and burnt hazelnut shell. Along with the cremated remains were artefacts: 115 pieces of quartz (11 of which were finely knapped crystal quartz), 80 pieces of flint, a stone chip from a polished stone axe, a small stone bead and two pieces of pottery. A fragment of a distal humerus was recovered. The fragment was small but displayed fully fused epiphyses, usually occurring between nine to 15 years old. No sex could be determined. A radiocarbon determination from charcoal surrounding the cremation provided dates of 3771 – 3651 cal BC when calibrated at 2 sigma. The 14 token cremation deposits were very small.

Late Neolithic timber circle and forecourt (Structures 2 and 4)

This is the most extensive phase of activity represented on the site. This phase includes the timber circle (Structure 2), the partial crescent of features on the west side of the timber circle, and a courtyard to the south-east of the timber circle (Structure 4). The timber circle and courtyard fence line were radiocarbon dated to 2863 – 2503 cal BC and 2860 – 2499 cal BC respectively, indicating contemporanity.

Structure 2 was 6.9m in diameter, with a single ring of large post-holes which formed a Late Neolithic Timber circle. In the interior were four large post-holes, along with numerous other pits, post- and stakeholes. A radiocarbon determination from a pit within Structure 2 provided dates of 2863 – 2807 cal BC, 2759 – 2717 cal BC and 2707 – 2571 cal BC when calibrated at 2 sigma.

The courtyard fence to the south-east (Structure 4) was a solid line of fence posts which delineated an area 16m long by 14.04m wide orientated east to west. Although there was no clear entrance into the outer area the journey through the monument was quite well laid out. There was an alignment of four which ran from the outside of the fence in line with the entrance of the timber circle. This line passed through the middle of a curving line of pits, along the gully which ran up to the entrance through the centre of the two entrance pits and through the two inner posts to the centre of the timber circle. A radiocarbon determination from a post-hole within Structure 4 provided dates of 2860 – 2808 cal BC, 2754 – 2721 cal BC and 2703 – 2522 cal BC when calibrated at 2 sigma.

There was also a linear feature interpreted as an entrance pathway which ran into Structure 2. The curving line of large post-holes/pits at the east end of the entrance gully defined a formal entrance into the gully. Paired with two of these were two further post-holes which further defined the entrance into the gully. On either side of the gully, about halfway towards the timber circle entrance, were a pair of posts, one either side of the entrance gully which also formed part of the monumental architecture.

Along with the Grooved Ware pottery were many blades and end scrapers which are often found in association; many of these artefacts had been disposed of in structured deposits, with some of the pottery clearly having been distributed amongst the post-holes of the timber circle. What is unusual is that the location of the pottery (often situated around the interface between the darker post-pipe fill and the post packing) suggests that the pottery was placed within the post-pipes when the posts were still in place; this was especially evident in the post-pits for the timber circle.

Some of the more interesting artefacts were the six polished stone axe chips, the one broken polished stone axe and the two beads that were found during the excavation, these included one pierced stone bead and one green glass bead. The pieces of polished stone axe suggest that the axes were being utilised on site and then removed with the waste.

Early Bronze Age house (Structures 1 and 3)

Structure 1 was 6.1m by 5.4m in size, orientated north-east to south-west. It had an inner ring of post-holes with an outer ring of stake-holes. In the interior were four large post-holes and a hearth, unfortunately it was disturbed by a modern pit. A radiocarbon determination from a stake-hole provided dates of 2571 – 2513 cal BC and 2504 – 2399 cal BC when calibrated at 2 sigma (Beta-442320).

Structure 3 was 2.8m long by 1.4m wide orientated east-south-east to west-north-west. This was a small rectangular four-post structure to the north of Structure 1. As the stake-holes which formed the outer ring of Structure 1 also respected Structure 3 it is evident that the two structures were contemporary, and probably even associated.

NAC, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DY