Down the Road, A Road to the Past Volume 1

Abstract

Major developments by TransportNI have seen the A1 between Lisburn and the border with the Republic of Ireland upgraded. These developments presented an opportunity for archaeologists to uncover and investigate many features that were previously hidden. A large number of archaeological sites were recorded. These sites were both domestic and funerary, and ranged in date from the Mesolithic (8000-4000 BC) to the present day. The excavations shed light on the nature of the dwellings the people lived in, the burial practices undertaken, the domestic and funerary artefacts they used, and on a few of sites the jewellery and ornamentation worn. This volume encapsulates the essence of the archaeological sites recorded, and provides a detailed summary of the findings of the 200 or so archaeologists who worked on the Road Scheme. To bring life to the archaeology detailed reconstruction drawings of both the artefacts and the most significant sites have been provided by artist Philip Armstrong.