2002:1311 - DROGHEDA: 23–25 Dyer Street, Louth

An assessment of the proposed development at 23–25 Dyer Street, Drogheda, was carried out in September 2002. This identified archaeological strata at the site. Although it was unlikely that the ground reduction for the foundation slab would impinge on these levels, it was clear that the piles would penetrate them and that the excavation of the lift pit would also impinge on them. A limited excavation was recommended, as well as a programme of monitoring. The monitoring was carried out under a separate licence (see No. 1312, Excavations 2002).

The archaeological excavation took place in November and December 2002. During the excavation there was a reduction in scope of the excavation area, from 11m by 11m to c. 5m by 5m, which incorporated the location of the lift shaft. Two post-medieval structural features were identified during the monitoring of ground reduction at the site.

The excavation identified a complex sequence of activity at the site dating from the medieval period to modern times, with six phases. This analysis is based solely on the stratigraphic relationships between the various archaeological deposits and features recorded at the site.

Phase I
The earliest phase of activity was investigated only in the western side of the excavation area, around the location of the lift shaft. It was characterised by two distinct areas of activity, separated by a clear linear division.

The earliest manifestation of this division was a linear trench recorded running east–west across the area. It measured 3.1m by 0.9m, with a depth of 0.1m, and appeared to be cut into the natural. In later phases this linear division was manifest as a linear interface between abutting archaeological strata. Traces of wood were noted along this interface, but no coherent structural remains were identified. It is possible that the two areas were delimited by a wooden fence.

The archaeological strata to the south of the linear division were characterised by compact domestic/industrial deposits, and those to the north had very organic deposits with cesspits.

Phase II
The second phase of activity was again investigated only in the western side of the site, around the location of the lift shaft. This phase was characterised by two distinct areas of activity separated by a clear linear division, mirroring Phase I. However, unlike in Phase I, there was no obvious feature or structure demarcating the two areas. The deposits associated with this phase of activity in both areas of the site abutted each other along a line parallel to that of the wooden plank, which may represent the base-plate of a fence. The interface between the two sets of deposits was sharp and well defined, with occasional wood fragments.

In the southern area this phase was initially characterised by occupation layers interspersed with redeposited natural. The remains of a north–south-oriented wall ran along the western extent of the excavation area, terminating just south of the east–west division.
In the northern area a further series of organic deposits was recorded.

Phase III
The third phase of activity was fully investigated only in the western side of the site, although deposits relating to this phase were identified and recorded in the east of the site before excavation in this area was terminated. Again, there was a clear division between the deposits recorded in the north and the south of the excavation area, although, as with Phase II, this was not reflected in the presence of any tangible recorded structure.

In the northern section of the reduced excavation area a possible well was cut through the organic layers, as well as a series of shallow pits. When this feature was initially identified, a rough domed cavity extended for c. 0.4m above the stone superstructure, into the later layers sealing the well. There was no indication of any structure supporting the cavity.

The southern area was characterised during this phase of activity by a series of ten thin, stratified occupation deposits. One of the latest in this sequence was a thin layer of charcoal, 0.02m deep. Nine iron bolts were identified sitting vertically in the layer and penetrating the underlying layer. Seven of these formed a clear north–south alignment. Further iron bolts were recovered loose in the layer.

Phase IV
The fourth phase was the latest phase of medieval activity identified. Deposits relating to this phase were defined and recorded before the cessation of excavation over the eastern half of the site. Features relating to this phase in the centre and west of the site were more fully investigated.

A subrectangular cut formed the basis for the most substantial hearth identified and abutted the existing wall from Phase II. A layer of rough limestone flags, roughly oval in outline with a concave profile, sealed the earliest three fills of the hearth. A second, low wall ran east–west along the northern edge of the hearth and appeared to be directly associated with the flag surface. The condition of the flagstones indicated that they had been heavily exposed to high temperatures, and the flags were sealed by a series of burnt and oxidised fills. To the east of this feature was a second, paved hearth.

A layer of garden soil, of probable late medieval date, sealed the final phase of medieval activity.

Phase V
The fifth phase of activity was characterised by deposits of stratified garden soils. These were quite deep across the north of the site, becoming more shallow toward the present street frontage. Although the garden soils produced large quantities of medieval pottery, the occurrence of post-medieval pottery sherds in these layers suggests that the medieval material is residual.

Phase VI
The final phase of activity was characterised by a series of post-medieval structural remains. In the north-east quadrant of the site a basement structure had truncated the archaeological deposits. The basement extended north and east beyond the limit of excavation. There were indications that parts of the basement had been incorporated in the foundations for the printing presses that had been installed at the site in modern times. A decorated column base was recovered from the backfill of the basement, which would have originated from an ornate 18th- or 19th-century house. Toward the centre of the site was a well, comprising a roughly oval drystone wall with dressed and undressed, roughly coursed stones.

During the programme of monitoring that preceded the excavation, a north–south-oriented wall was identified at the western edge of the development site, with a small subrectangular structure to the east. These features lay to the west of the main excavation area, but their investigation and recording were included in the scope of the excavation. The evidence from the excavation indicates a post-medieval date for both features.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin