2018:278 - Drumcree Parish Church, Drumcree, Armagh

Excavation took place of an early medieval settlement at the location known as Drumcree Parish Church.

Extensive archaeological features were identified during test trenching and it was agreed by DFC:HED that the test trenches would be expended to open up the entire area of the new car park. Once the area had been opened all of the archaeological remains were recorded using GPS survey equipment. When the drainage layout had been agreed test trenches were hand excavated across the sections where the cut for the drainage would destroy archaeological remains. After the archaeology was recorded an archaeologist was present on site to record the covering and protection of the archaeology prior to the construction of the car park.

Excavation along the route of the drainage channels took place from 17-21 September 2018. Excavation of linear features across the site identified them as a mixture of enclosure ditches and structure gullies as well as associated large pits of unknown function. Artefacts uncovered included the remains of an early medieval stone bracelet and large quantities of early medieval pottery. Charcoal was recovered from the fill of one of the structure's gullies and returned a radiocarbon determination of AD 534-644 when calibrated at 2 sigma (Beta-510611).

After the excavation of the features in the path of the drainage channels was completed, the site was protected with a layer of geotextile and quarry dust. This layer was put in place prior to raising the ground levels to create the surface for the new car park. This process was supervised and recorded to insure that preservation in situ was carried out as per the requirements of DFC: HED. Supervision was completed on 2 October 2018 after the site was securely covered and protected.

638 Springfield Road Belfast BT15 3JJ