2017:359 - Magheralave Road Lisburn - test trenching phase 2, Antrim

This report is designed to present the results of two phases of test trenching on the lands at Magheralave Road, Lisburn. The first phase contained six test trenches in the area of a new site compound. The second phase consisted of 25 test trenches to the west of the Magheralave Road, and an open area measuring 60m by 20m with a further area 10m by 10m extending its southern edge to follow ditch C51 which continued from a ditch excavated in 2015 under licence AE/15/106. Nothing of an archaeological nature was uncovered within any of the test trenches.

With the agreement of the HED it was decided that it would not be necessary to test trench the whole of the area to the east of the Maghelave Road, due to its intensive land fill dumping, in places greater than 6m, and increasing in depth eastwards. When the open area strip was completed, removing overburden ranging up to 2m in depth, it was discovered that the ditch C51 ran southwards on a slightly curving eastwards arc for a distance of 42m finishing in a wide and shallow terminal. Two sections were excavated across it, and although it provided no dating evidence it was clear from the previous excavation that this was the continuation and end of C51. There were no other features associated with it to the south of the early medieval enclosure.

When the early medieval enclosure was excavated in 2015 the northern portion of ditch C51 was dated, a radiocarbon determination from it provided a date of 321 – 428 cal AD when calibrated at 2 sigma (Beta-465487). It was suggested by the excavator of the early medieval enclosure that the termini of the enclosure ditch were deliberately kept waterlogged possibly to deter the unwelcome. If this was the case it is likely that one of the role of ditch C51 was to function as an overflow to prevent the flooding of the entrance area, as well as channelling visitors and animals towards the entrance.

Northern Archaeological Consultancy, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast