County: Louth Site name: LOUGHBOY, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0285
Author: Sarah Cross for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure and Ritual site - holy well
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 707234m, N 775650m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.719491, -6.375262
Testing was carried out in June 1998 to determine the extent of a previously identified early medieval monastic site. Earlier investigations had recorded burials and souterrains associated with an enclosure close to a holy well associated with St Buite. The extent of the archaeological complex was unclear because there was a possibility of an outer enclosure and because there may have been activity outside of the enclosed area.
The site is on a slope running down to the River Boyne. The steep gradient had two effects on the site. Firstly, there may have been deliberate levelling of the site associated with its primary use. Secondly, the steep slope has caused soil creep, which may have damaged archaeological deposits.
Archaeological features relating to at least two phases of human activity were recorded in two test-trenches on either side of a zone protecting the archaeological complex. Substantial ditches interpreted as an outer enclosure were recorded in both trenches. The eastern trench had a small number of shallow features, which have been disturbed by soil creep. The western trench had a broader range of features, including possible structural remains and a substantial pit beyond the limit of the outer enclosure.
The archaeological deposits recorded in the assessment were not particularly rich, and there were no significant finds. They have, however, broadened the understanding of the history of the site. It is now clear that there was an outer enclosure at the site. It is also clear that a wide range of activities took place here in at least two phases. The draw of the river and the holy well was strong enough for people to overcome the obstacles of building on a steep slope.
A number of questions cannot be answered by the archaeological work carried out to date. The most important of these relates to the integrity of the complex. Although the date of the previously recorded souterrains and burials is not in question, there are at least two phases of activity represented in the material recorded in this assessment. The relationship between the initial features, the enclosure and the other, more ephemeral features cannot be determined at this point
Editor's note: Though carried out during 1998, the report on this site was received too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
