2017:746 - Carrickmore or Termon Rock (Drumnakilly Road), Tyrone

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tyrone Site name: Carrickmore or Termon Rock (Drumnakilly Road)

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/17/78

Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry)

Site type: No archaeological significance

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 660904m, N 872794m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.599741, -7.057462

Archaeological monitoring of primary ground reduction works (topsoil stripping) was undertaken during 10–18 May 2017, having been commissioned by Loughran Rock Quarries Limited, at the site of the proposed development of an area of land between Drumnakilly Road & Mullanmore Road (approximately 150m north of 361 Drumnakilly Road), Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone, for the proposed construction of 43 dwellings, including 9 detached, 18 semi-detached, 15 townhouses and 1 apartment, with associated car parking and landscaping for all.

The removal of topsoil or overburden was undertaken by a back-acting mechanical excavator (digger) furnished with a straight-edged ditching (Sheugh) bucket and confirmed that the site comprises two quite distinct zones consisting of a low-lying boggy area to north and a sloping and slightly elevated area at south.

Within the south-west and south-east portions of the PDA (i.e. the area of land sloping down from Drumnakilly Road at south) the removal of topsoil revealed undisturbed glacial subsoil, comprising mid-orange/brown clay, at a depth of 0.3–0.55m. Subsoil-cut, stone-filled field drains were noted within this portion of the site.

In the low-lying central and north-east portions of the PDA, removal of the peaty topsoil revealed undisturbed glacial subsoil, comprising light-orange/grey boulder clay, at a depth of 0.55–1.2m.

In the low-lying north-west portion of the PDA, removal of the peaty topsoil revealed further layers of peaty soil containing partially rotted vegetation with undisturbed glacial subsoil, comprising light-orange/grey boulder clay, encountered at a depth of 0.55–2.6m.

No archaeological features, remains or deposits were identified within the boundaries of the PDA during the monitoring of site clearance/topsoil stripping works at the site.

150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.