County: Derry Site name: Ballydullaghan (Carhill Road, Garvagh)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LDY026:018 Licence number: AE/19/133
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 684341m, N 911371m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.942890, -6.683643
Archaeological evaluation (test-trenching) works were undertaken on 17 September 2019 on behalf of Mr. Damien Kearney, and relates to a Planning Application for a proposed replacement dwelling, garage and new access laneway at lands 135m north-north-west of 95 Carhill Road, Garvagh, Co. Derry (Planning Ref: LA01/2019/0299/F).
On the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey map (c.1830) an Enclosure site (LDY026:018) is marked as a double dotted circle around 45m in overall diameter and designated “fort” within an area of undesignated land to the immediate north of the PDA. However, the lack of field boundaries or other features in the vicinity makes it difficult to overlay the map on current mapping with precision and it is possible that the site was not in fact located within the boundaries of the proposed access laneway.
By the time of the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (c.1860) the Enclosure site (LDY026:018) is marked as an undesignated circular platform around 50m in diameter. A field boundary is shown as transecting the southern portion of Enclosure LDY026:018 with the monument extending c.8m south of the field boundary.
On the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (c.1900) the area of the PDA appears much as on the previous edition map. However, the Enclosure site (LDY026:018) is marked as the northern arc of a bank only.
It should be noted that the line of the field boundary appears to have changed between the 2nd and 3rd edition maps; on the earlier map, the boundary curves very slightly northwards while on the later map the boundary curves towards south. While this may be due to historic mapping inaccuracies, it is possible that the boundary was relocated southwards to incorporate the monument within the northern field at some time between 1860 and 1900. However, if this did in fact occur, then it is likely that the field boundary would respect the bank of the enclosure and the associated ditch (outer) would have extended within the southern field.
It was noted that the field to the north of the field boundary is substantially higher (approximately 1.5–2m) than the ground surface to south of the boundary. Given the local topography, it is unlikely that this is natural.
More likely is that farming improvements have included considerable groundworks to level the land, elevating the field to north and/or reducing ground levels to south of the field boundary. It seems probable that such works included (or were undertaken prior to) the establishment of the existing field boundary.
As no evidence for the former field boundary which is marked on the 1860 map as extending north-south to the immediate south-west of the enclosure was identified in either Trench 1 or 2, it seems reasonable to suggest that agricultural improvements included the reduction of ground levels within the area of the proposed access laneway.
In addition, a Level 3 survey of the dwelling house which is to be replaced has been undertaken and as no areas of either discrete or extensive archaeological features, remains or deposits were identified within the area under investigation during the evaluation works, it is recommended that no further archaeological works be undertaken in association with the proposed development and that the proposed development be allowed to proceed.
Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
