2019:754 - Gortmullan (Hick's Quarry), Fermanagh

Monitoring of topsoil stripping/primary ground reduction works was undertaken on 13 – 14 February 2019, having been commissioned by Quinn Building Products, and relates to the Planning Consent of 13 November 2015 which includes the condition that an archaeological programme of works is implemented in accordance with Planning Policy Guidelines PPS6 BH4 to provide for the identification and evaluation of the archaeological remains within the site, for mitigation of the impacts of the development through excavation recording or by preservation of remains and for the preparation of an archaeological report.

Monitoring of topsoil stripping has previously been undertaken at the site during 27 September – 1 October 2010 and on 31 January 2011 under licence no. AE/10/145, during 11 – 14 November 2014 under licence no. AE/14/185 and during 8 – 9 August 2017 under licence no. AE/17/143 by FarrimondMacManus Ltd, having been commissioned by Quinn Building Products.

Quarrying works at the site are to be undertaken in several distinct phases.  Consequently, the monitoring which is the subject of this report relates to an area within the central portion of the proposed development area only.

Topsoil removal revealed undisturbed glacial subsoil, which primarily consisted of a light brown orange sandy clay within the southern portion of the area under investigation and a mid-grey brown sandy gravel within the northern portion of the stripped area, at a depth of 0.1 – 0.45m.

No archaeological features, remains or deposits were uncovered during the monitored topsoil stripping works.

Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.