County: Louth Site name: DUNDALK: Fort Hill, Balriggan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1326
Author: David Bayley, for IAC Ltd.
Site type: Hillfort and Burial
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 704512m, N 806587m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.997945, -6.405957
Excavation took place of a medieval hillfort before the construction of the Western Dundalk Bypass. The total area uncovered was c. 180m by 90m. Contained in this area were the plateau-like hilltop, the steep eastern slope of the hillside and the gradual northern slope. Excavation revealed minor prehistoric activity, with most activity relating to the medieval and post-medieval periods.
The site contained three enclosing ditches, two of which were medieval. The outermost ditch contained no diagnostic material. On the interior of these ditches were various pits and post-holes and a curvilinear trench that probably had a structural function. A single inhumation burial was also recorded. It was probably a pre-teen female and was oriented roughly north–south. Finds included an uncontexted polished stone axe, medieval and post-medieval pottery, crucible sherds and a blue bead.
123 Roselawn Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15
