2018:120 - Glebe Park, Aughnafosker, Moira, Down

An archaeological evaluation was conducted ahead of a proposed development to erect 53 dwellings (comprising detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings), with garages, landscaping, access and other associated site works at lands immediately adjacent to and north-east of 21 and 30 Glebe Park, Aughnafosker, Moira, Co. Down.
The evaluation consisted of the monitoring of topsoil removal across the site, which was completed using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket.

Topsoil was consistent across the site and was on average a depth of 0.3-0.4m. It was a mid-brown silty loam. The area of development comprised two fields, a smaller field at the northern end of the site and the remainder being one large field. Both fields had a number of field drains extending through them, orientated both north-east/south-west and north-west/south-east.
A number of archaeological features were identified during the course of the topsoil monitoring. These were all located within the larger of the two fields and consisted of a series of pits and a burnt spread. The features identified were all cut into the subsoil, a yellow-orange sandy clay.
One pit contained a small amount of flint, with the rest of the artefacts found (flint and modern pottery) being encountered within the topsoil. No artefacts were recovered from any of the other features. All features were fully excavated. While the features identified were relatively ephemeral and did not appear to be related to each other, their presence within the development area is evidence of activity in this area possibly during the prehistoric period.

7-9 Castlereagh Street, Belfast BT5 54NE