County: Down Site name: St Louis Grammar School, 151 Newry Road, Dunnaman, Kilkeel
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DOW055:036 Licence number: AE/23/125
Author: Thomas McCrudden / Farrimond Macmanus ltd
Site type: Motte, Neolithic
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 728813m, N 814821m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.066407, -6.032044
Pre-development archaeological test trenching was carried out in accordance with an approved Archaeological Programme of Works. A total of 69 test trenches covering three test trenching areas were excavated across the proposed works area in December 2023 (test trenching areas 1 and 3) and February 2024 (test trenching area 2).
The examination of the SMR records has highlighted that the proposed development area (PDA) is located 0.9km northwest of the Kilkeel Area of Archaeological Potential and that there is one SMR site located within the boundaries of the PDA (DOW055:036 Motte), two SMR sites (DOW055:031 Rath & DOW055:037 Rath) located within 50m of the north and south eastern site boundaries and one Scheduled Monument under State Care (DOW055:030 Megalithic Tomb) located 310m north of the proposed development site.
The results of the testing confirm that deposits of an archaeological nature survive within the boundaries of the proposed development area.
Within Area 1 the focus of activity appears to lay at the southern portion of the Area and centre upon a charcoal-rich foundation slot (F5) which potentially dates to the Neolithic period based upon pottery sherds recovered from its fill. It is possible that the slot defines the outline of a structure with the neighbouring post-holes (F7, F9, F11, F13, F15 & F17) and isolated charcoal/burning deposits (F21, F22, F23, F24 & F25) the result of peripheral activities.
The archaeological nature of the loose stone (F19) located at the western end of Test Trench 1-16 and southern end of Trench 1-17 remains unclear, however the topography of the area generally sloped from east to west with the lowest point coinciding with the location of the stone. Therefore, it is possible that the stone is related to activities which occurred at the side of this natural water-filled hollow.
Within Area 3 the focus of activity appears to be located at the summit of a low drumlin where charcoal-rich structural foundation slot F30 was located. This foundation slot was similar in size and shape to slot F5 uncovered within Area 1 and could therefore be the remains of a contemporary structure with similar peripheral activities occurring evidenced by features F32, F34, F36, F38 and F40.
It is recommended that a programme of archaeological monitoring/supervision of primary ground works is undertaken as part of pre-construction preparatory ground works. As archaeological test trenching has identified two areas of archaeological potential within the development boundaries, monitored groundworks may be confined solely to these two areas of the site.
Adelaide House, Belfast
