County: Derry Site name: Cabragh (Knockcloughrim Quarry)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/18/132
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
Site type: Cremation burial, prehistoric
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 689842m, N 897316m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.815689, -6.602191
Monitoring of topsoil stripping was undertaken at the site of proposed development from 30 July – 10 August 2018, having been commissioned by FP McCann, and relates to a Planning Condition requested by the Department for Communities; Historic Environment Division: Historic Monuments Unit (DfC:HED:HMU) under Planning Policy Statement 6: Built Heritage 4 (PPS 6:BH4) for archaeological mitigation associated with a lateral extension to the quarry at lands north and west of No. 47 Rocktown Lane, Cabragh, Magherafelt (Knockcloughrim Quarry), Co. Londonderry.
A portion of the area (c.0.37ha) had been stripped and worked prior to the undertaking of monitoring works. The remainder of the site (c.1.12ha) was stripped under strict archaeological supervision.
Monitoring revealed the majority of the site was archaeological sterile, with the exception of a single, substantial, isolated cremation pit, 1.2m (length) x 0.6m (width) x 0.25m (depth), identified in the center of the site. The cremation pit was sub-circular on plan with steeply sloping sides and a relatively flat base. The feature was filled with a homogenous silty sand which contained a considerable amount of charcoal and burnt bone.
No other archaeological features, remains, deposits or artefacts were identified within the boundaries of the site.
Examination of the post-excavation plan contained in the ADS Ltd report on excavations undertaken in 2012 (Ref: 2012:130 - KNOCKLOUGHRIM QUARRY, CABRAGH, Derry) in the area to the immediate west of the area which is the subject of this report suggests that the main concentration of archaeological features was within the central and southern portions of the previous extension to quarrying, although evidence for discrete features was apparent throughout. Several archaeological features were identified including five cremations, forty-four pits, forty post-holes and thirteen stake-holes. Four of the cremations were located in simple pits while the fifth was contained within an inverted urn. The pits, post- and stake-holes were scattered across the site and no structure, apart from a possible windbreak, was identified. Finds from the site include prehistoric pottery and flint artefacts.
Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
