Archaeological Finds At A1 Loughbrickland Revealed

Minister Catriona Ruane, on behalf of Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy, today unveiled information about archaeological finds at the A1 Loughbrickland roads scheme.

The information about the archaeological finds is being displayed outdoors on information boards at Loughbrickland lakeside, near to the site of the roads scheme, where members of the public and other interested parties can come along to discover more.

Speaking about the finds the Minister said: “The discovery on the A1 Loughbrickland to Beech Hill scheme of a Bronze Age burial ground and a Neolithic settlement site dating back 6,500 years is significant, and it has increased knowledge and understanding of pre-history in this area of County Down.

“The display of these information boards marks the completion of the archaeological works associated with the A1 Loughbrickland to Beech Hill dual carriageway scheme. Such works are an important aspect of the environmental work which Roads Service undertakes as part of its programme of road improvements.

“My Department is committed to fully record and research the archaeological sites that turn up from time to time in our road construction sites. The archaeological find near Loughbrickland has been acknowledged as rare and extremely significant, and it is good that the people of this area can access the information now displayed here and learn more about the history of the area.”

Roads Service strives to construct new and improved roads as part of its Strategic Road Improvement Programme and it does so while recognising that it has to be sensitive to the environmental impact of its activities. Roads Service always follows a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment procedure in advance of any road construction, which includes cultural heritage research. There is an obligation on the Department, and other developers, to respect our past and to take care of our environmental and archaeological heritage.

At the event three publications were also launched: "Archaeological Excavations Loughbrickland to Beech Hill, Co. Down” (BAR Monograph); "Archaeological Excavations on the A1 in Loughbrickland" (Non-technical summary); and "Digging Down" (Children’s Book).

Notes to Editors

1. The A1 Loughbrickland to Beech Hill scheme comprised the upgrading of 9.4km of single carriageway on the A1 Belfast to Dublin Road, between Loughbrickland and Beechhill, to a dual carriageway with associated side road realignments, provision of five underpasses and two earth retaining structures.

2. The archaeological works were managed by Kev Beachus, Principal Archaeologist of Jacobs Engineering UK Ltd. The site is a narrow finger, or "inch" of land at an elevation 292ft. Ancient water levels are known to have been higher than present day levels and would therefore have surrounded the site with water or waterlogged land on three sides in prehistoric times.

3. Media are invited to attend the exhibition of archaeological findings at 10.30am on Thursday 25 June at Loughbrickland Lakeside.

4. Media queries to: Press Office, Tel 028 9054 0004. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.