County: Antrim Site name: A6 Randalstown to Castledawson dualling - Castledawson to Deerpark road test trenching
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: AE/16/161
Author: Colin Dunlop
Site type: Multi-period
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 694211m, N 892391m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.770652, -6.535839
The archaeological investigations comprised 231 mechanically excavated test trenches measuring 30m x 2m (TT1-TT157, B1-B15, BHR1-BHR58 and 203T) and the topographic recording and excavation of hand-dug sections through two Historic Landscape Features (F1 & F2). Hand Augers and boreholes within this area were also undertaken under licence AE/17/048.
During the course of the trenching five new archaeological sites were identified, these were all excavated under the monitoring licence (AE/16/161). The archaeological sites were as follows:
• Site 12 (TT6) – Five small charcoal-rich pits in Annaghmore townland. No artefacts were recovered to date these features. (IGR: H 92240 92300; ITM: X 692183 Y 892310).
• Site 13 (TT19) – Small prehistoric house structure and burial pit in Annaghmore townland. The site had been cut by several linear features, the result of modern deep ploughing. A small quantity of flint and pottery was recovered, however none of the pieces were diagnostic and as such the activity represented by these features can at this stage only broadly be dated to the prehistoric period. (IGR: H 93050 92248; ITM: X 692993 Y 892258)
• Site 14 (TT33) - Four pits of various sizes and two spreads in the townland of Annaghmore. The site was crossed by numerous linear features, the result of agricultural deep ploughing. Undiagnostic flint artefacts were recovered. (IGR: H 93247 91979; ITM: 693190 891989).
• Site 15 (BHR2) – Twelve pits of various sizes filled with charcoal-rich material in the townland of Castledawson. Mapping of these features indicates no discernible patterning to suggest function. One flint artefact was uncovered within a secure context within a small pit feature which may suggest a broad prehistoric date for this activity. (ITM: 693196 892683, H 93253 92673).
• Site 16 (TT62) – A large pit filled with charcoal-rich material in the townland of Annaghmore. No artefacts were recovered. The feature is isolated and has little archaeological significance. (ITM: 693280 892334, H 93337 92324).
Northern Archaeological Consultancy, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast
