County: Louth Site name: DUNMAHON
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 12:15-16 Licence number: 95E0191
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 703029m, N 801911m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.956241, -6.430157
Archaeological testing by trial-trenching of a proposed rock extraction site at Dunmahon, Co. Louth, was carried out on 4 September 1995. The site is located in close proximity to two archaeological sites as identified in the SMR for County Louth and the Archaeological Survey of County Louth. These sites are classified as possible souterrains. Nine trenches were excavated in total in the area to be disturbed by the proposed extraction works.
Natural rock and boulder clay were exposed very close to the surface in most of the trenches. However, the presence of a charcoal and ash deposit in Trench 7 is indicative of some archaeological activity. This layer was exposed at a depth of 1m and it measured 0.2m in thickness. It contained a small amount of burnt animal bone but no dating evidence was obtained. No other features were uncovered on the site nor finds from the trenches. However, field-walking in the area of Trench 6 revealed a scatter of pottery sherds. The majority were post-medieval in date but an unglazed base sherd was recovered which is medieval in date, possibly as early as the 13th century. No traces of the two possible souterrains were uncovered during the testing but, owing to the extent of the proposed development, all ground disturbance will be monitored.
30 Laurence St., Drogheda, Co. Louth
