2000:0699 - MULLADRILLEN, Louth

Pre-development test-trenching was undertaken in advance of a proposed roadway, in the vicinity of a recorded souterrain. The proposed road route runs along the 35–40m contour of the south-facing slope of an east–west-running ridge, close to the spot that has been indicated as the location of the souterrain. The slope is quite steep at this point in the field, with a gradient that is about 1:5, rising overall from 34m at the edge of the field to 59m at its highest point. The souterrain is reputed to be along the slope—not at the top of the hill—and it has been mapped on the 42m contour. Owing to the steepness of the slope, there was a requirement to grade the hill on the northern side of the road for a distance of at least 16m from the road centre. This extended the overall road-take to c. 23m, which will be scarped to a maximum depth of 3.5m.

Trenching was carried out in a staggered pattern over a total distance of 53.5m east–west and 34m north–south. Eight trenches were laid out, with one, Trench 8, running alongside the supposed site of the souterrain. All trenches were dug using a tracked digger with a 2m-wide ditching bucket. The field has been consistently ploughed in recent memory, and a crop of wheat has just been cut on it.

The topsoil was a consistent clay loam containing at least 40% clay; it was a uniform mid-brown colour in all trenches and of fine, slightly sticky texture with occasional pebbles and small stones. Subsoil was a bright yellow boulder clay with stones, some quite large, included in it. An area of slightly rougher ground, with some stones just beneath the surface, was noted in the area where the souterrain is said to lie. It was decided to run a trench through the southern section of this area, as this marked the maximum take for the road at this point. Modern furrows were visible in all trenches cutting into the subsoil. They ran diagonally north-west across the slope and were on average 0.35–0.5m wide and 0.4–0.5m apart. No archaeological features or finds were uncovered. A small quantity of modern finds consisting of blackware, china, iron nail, brick and mortar, were noticed.

Trenches 7 and 8 were along the line of the most northerly take of the road, and, if the position of the souterrain as mapped is approximately correct, then it must lie to the north of this line. Therefore it will not be affected by the proposed roadway. However, as there remains the possibility that the location of the souterrain as mapped is inaccurate and it could lie further to the east or west of the noted location, monitoring of topsoil removal of the entire development was recommended.