2025:628 - Site 11 B, Ballymakenny Road, Moneymore, Drogheda, Louth
County: Louth
Site name: Site 11 B, Ballymakenny Road, Moneymore, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 24E0896
Author: Marc Piera
Author/Organisation Address: c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Site type: Enclosure, and other features
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 708536m, N 777277m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.733835, -6.354986
| Archaeological testing was undertaken in association with a permitted residential development at Site 11 Ballymakenny Road/Twenties Lane, Moneymore townland, Co. Louth. The work was carried out over the course of four days from 19th August 2025. A total of 16 trenches, measuring c. 387 linear metres, were excavated within the footprint of the former compound, designated as Area 11B.
This investigation confirmed the results of the geophysical survey (with relatively high accuracy for the mapped anomaly footprint), recording the eastern arc of a large enclosure which predominantly extends to the west of the permitted development boundary. The enclosure ditch is substantial and while the investigated section was largely sterile of diagnostic remains a fragment of flint was recovered from the upper levels which may indicate a prehistoric origin. Scattered small pits were identified in the vicinity to the east. A curvilinear feature which contained prehistoric pottery was also identified to the southwest of the enclosure. A north-south oriented ditch was recorded to the east of the enclosure, which may represent a former field boundary. All these features have been integrated within an area designated as Archaeological Area 5 (24E0896 AA5 Cuttings 1–3). Cutting 1 contains the main cluster of archaeological features distributed to the west of the site, meanwhile Cuttings 2 and 3 contain an isolated pit each to the east of the enclosure. |