2018:891 - Donnydeade, Tyrone

A watching brief was undertaken during the Gas to the West project at Donnydeade, Moy, County Tyrone. A number of features and deposits of archaeological significance were identified during monitored topsoil stripping at Plots 29.02 and 29.03 Donnydeade.
Three pits were identified within Plot 29.02, two of which were interpreted as Late Bronze Age rubbish pits and a third as a post-medieval rectangular charcoal production pit. A radiocarbon date obtained from one of the two rubbish pits produced a date of 1048– 908 BC (2 sigma).
The subsequent excavation identified the earliest phase of activity at the site as a small group of pits dating to the Chalcolithic 2462 - 2208 BC (2 sigma). A significant artefact assemblage including thumbnail scrapers, end scrapers and double ended scrapers, as well as sherds from Beaker and Vase Food Vessels, were recovered from this group of features.
The main feature within Plot 29.03 consisted of a post-built circular structure interpreted as a roundhouse. The roundhouse had a diameter of 11m and was defined by 18 substantial post-holes surrounded by 15 segmented shallow linear and curvilinear slot trenches. A south-east facing porch feature marked by a pair of smaller post-holes was also identified. Radiocarbon analysis of a piece of alder charcoal obtained from the post-pipe fill of one of the entrance post-holes produced an Early to Middle Bronze Age date of 1745-1539 BC (2 sigma). A pattern of deliberate deposition of artefacts was noted within the entrance post-holes.
A small area to the south-west of the roundhouse comprising a cooking pit, hut circle and cluster of stake-holes was interpreted as a cooking area, with charcoal obtained from the fill of the cooking pit returning a date of 1368 – 1053BC (2 sigma) placing it in the Middle/Late Bronze Age.
Both the roundhouse and the cooking area was partially enclosed to the north and south by two curvilinear palisade slot trenches set c.40m apart. The northern slot trench extended beyond the limit of excavation to the east and west. A pattern of deliberate deposition of artefacts was observed within both slot trenches. A radiocarbon date obtained from a piece of hazel charcoal from the basal fill of the northern slot trench, returned a date of 1400 – 1124BC (2 sigma) placing it in the Middle/Late Bronze Age period.
A substantial ring ditch, with an external diameter of 8.5m, width of 2.7m and maximum depth of 0.84m, was uncovered at the eastern boundary of the site. A portion of the ring ditch which extended beyond the limit of excavation to the east was preserved in situ. The ditch contained a pit at its base which may represent a foundation burial. A Middle Bronze Age radiocarbon date of 1509-1324BC (2 sigma) was obtained from the basal fill of the pit, which closely matches that of the basal fill of the ditch itself. The ring ditch had been substantially re-excavated during the Iron Age, with the basal fill of the re-cut producing a radiocarbon date of 536-372BC (2 sigma).
A small pit containing the token cremated remains of a young child identified close to the ring ditch produced a Late Bronze Age date of 1257-1053BC (2 sigma).
The final phase of activity at the site is represented by an isolated pit containing sherds of a Vase Food Vessel type and Medieval Ulster Coarse Ware.

John Cronin and Associates, Burnside, St Oran’s Road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, F93 RW84