County: Derry Site name: Dale Farm Ltd, Moneymore Road (Dunman), Cookstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LDY 048:024 Licence number: AE/17/67
Author: Francis Woods, Gahan & Long Ltd
Site type: Undated enclosure and post-hole
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 682731m, N 880015m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.661505, -6.717698
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken ahead of the proposed construction of an extension to the dairy and factory at Dale Farm Ltd, Moneymore Road, Cookstown. The proposed development area contains LDY 048:024, identified as an enclosure of uncertain date in the SMR records.
A series of 16 test trenches were excavated across the proposed development site by mechanical digger fitted with a toothless bucket. Trench 15 revealed the subsoil-cut remains of a ditch most probably associated with LDY 048:024. The area surrounding Trench 15 was further stripped to identify the extent of this ditch within the development red line area. The full width of the ditch between the red line boundary of the development and the fence of the field was exposed, leaving a total area excavated of 16m north-south by 6m.
The ditch was found to have a slight curve eastwards at both the northern and southern extents of the excavation. There were no surface finds within the fill. At the southern end of the trench, the ditch has been cut by two plough furrows, running north-south. The curve on the ditch is very slight suggesting that if it was originally circular, then this was a very large enclosure and probably not a rath. It is assumed that the ditch continues north beyond the limit of the red line boundary for the proposed development. The southern extent of the ditch is cut by a farm lane and the area beyond this (which contained Trenches 12 and 13) has been reduced by sand extraction which would explain the lack of evidence for the ditch here.
A post-hole was also found on the eastern side of the ditch, which would be the interior of the enclosure. No archaeology was evident on the western side of the ditch, which would be the outside of the enclosure.
Following recording of the features the area was preserved in situ, sealed with a geotextile membrane and backfilled.
No archaeological features were found in the remaining trenches.
7-9 Castlereagh Street, Belfast BT5 4NE
