1980-84:0137 - MARSHES UPPER, Louth

A five-week rescue excavation was undertaken on an Early Christian habitation site and associated souterrain, the latter having been accidentally discovered in October 1980, during site clearance works for an IDA factory. An area of 120 sq. m. was fully excavated in and around the souterrain, which formed a rough W in plan. Most of its 21m had been unroofed and backfilled at some intermediate date. Associated with it was a small U-shaped hut and two shallow pits. Apart from a straight trench (1.25m wide by 0.7m deep) which appeared to define the northern boundary of the settlement, there was no evidence of an enclosing element. Over 50 sherds of Souterrain Ware, an iron belt-buckle, a plain bronze strap-end, 20-30 struck flint flakes and a small quantity of animal bone were found, in association, in the fill of the souterrain, the hut and the boundary trench. A hoard of eight Hiberno-Norse silver pennies, with a deposition date of AD 995-1000 (information from M. Kenny, NMI) was also recovered from the fill of the souterrain entrance and was the subject of a Treasure Trove enquiry. A permanent display case containing plans, photographs and some finds is on show in the factory foyer (see IMA, Newsletter, No. 12, October 1984, p. 9).