County: Louth Site name: BALRIGGAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1325
Author: Shane Delaney, IAC Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 703181m, N 810715m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.035294, -6.424859
This site at Balriggan was identified during linear testing of the route of the proposed Dundalk Western Bypass. Excavation began on 19 August 2002. Preliminary results indicated a double-ditched enclosure with an elaborate entrance. Two phases of activity were identified from the internal ditch. The internal area, c. 50m in diameter, produced a cluster of around 50 east–west-oriented grave-cuts. The interior also produced evidence of industry, possibly metalworking.
Finds from the site included fragments of saddle quern, a rotary quern and possible rubbing stones. Numerous sherds of both fine and coarse pottery were also found throughout the site. The pottery generally appears to be bucket shaped, with evidence of external burning and no decoration, and has been initially identified as souterrain ware. Other finds included blue glass beads, a fragment of a lignite bracelet, iron slag and two possible ring-pins.
The excavation is continuing, but initial findings suggest that the main focus of the site relates to the early medieval period.
8 Dungar Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
