County: Louth Site name: TULLYALLEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0870
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 704329m, N 777511m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.736795, -6.418633
An assessment was carried out on the site of a proposed development of 170 dwelling-houses at Tullyallen, Co. Louth, from 13 to 19 December 2000 and from 4 to 11 January 2001. Twenty-two trenches were excavated in Field 1 of the development area, while six larger cuttings were excavated in Field 2, following a recommendation from Dúchas The Heritage Service.
The testing revealed that light brown topsoil lay above the natural, orange boulder clay. Modern stone drains were exposed in the trenches dug in Field 1. Possible ditches and circular enclosures were partially uncovered in the test-trenches in Field 1. Along with the presence of oxidised clay and charcoal, these suggest that archaeological features may be widespread throughout Field 1.
The larger cuttings dug in Field 2 also uncovered archaeological features. A concentration of small pits and one larger pit in Cutting 23, along with a possible circular enclosure and other linear features, is of particular significance, as this part of the development area is closest to the Hill of Rath townland, which is an important area of Bronze Age activity. The presence of fragments of coarse pottery that may be of Neolithic date is also of major importance, as it indicates prehistoric activity in the area. Possible circular enclosures, possible ditches and the presence of charcoal and oxidised clay in other cuttings indicate that archaeological features may also be widespread throughout Field 2. It is recommended that full archaeological resolution of the entire development site be undertaken prior to construction.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
