2019:478 - Drumnakilly (Drumnakilly Quarry), Tyrone

Planning Consent has been granted for a proposed lateral extension to Drumnakilly Sand and Gravel Pit for the winning and working of sand and gravel and the restoration of the site of low-level agriculture at lands to the immediate north-west of 94 Spring Road, Drumnakilly, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, with 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 and for mitigation of the impacts of the development through excavation recording or by preservation of remains and for the preparation of an archaeological report.

Pre-development archaeological evaluation works were undertaken during 3 – 9 April 2019 throughout the proposed extension area on behalf of FP McCann.

Fourteen trenches, totalling approximately 2,556 linear metres of trenching, were excavated within the area of the proposed extension to quarrying during on-site works, within an area of c.4ha or 9.9 acres.

On-site evaluation works revealed glacial subsoil which generally comprised light – mid orange sand, directly below topsoil at a depth of c.0.3-0.4m throughout almost the entire area under evaluation within each of the trenches.

However, within the south-east portion of the site, marks in the subsoil were identified within Trenches 1 – 3 and appear to represent tracks from a mechanical excavator or bulldozer. These marks consistently appear to show the movement of a tracked machine moving south-east/north-west (or north-west/south-east).

In addition, at the north-west extent of several of the trenches (Trenches 5-9) subsoil is directly overlain by a layer of apparently redeposited sandy subsoil mixed with topsoil which is in turn overlain by topsoil.

Viewed together, it seems reasonable to tentatively suggest that the redeposited subsoil layer within the low-lying north-west portion of the site may have been mechanically deposited from the more elevated central/south-east portion of the site (i.e. “pushed” by a bulldozer from south-east towards north-west); possible evidence of historic agricultural improvements undertaken under a Government Farm Grant Scheme in about 1978 which are likely to have caused considerable ground disturbance and potentially significant negative impact on any archaeological features, remains or deposits which may have previously survived in situ.

No archaeological features, remains or deposits were noted within any of the test-trenches during evaluation works at the site, in addition to the features referred to above associated with the agricultural use of the land, and no artifacts were recovered during works.

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