2002:1335 - DUNDALK: Marshes Upper, Louth

Monitoring of all groundworks for the proposed Phase 1 development of five playing pitches at the Dundalk Institute of Technology was carried out from 2 January to 30 July 2002. Nineteen areas of archaeological potential were discovered on this 8ha site. Areas 8, 9, 17 and 19 were fully excavated, and Area 6 and 16 were partially excavated where the archaeological deposits lay above the level of the proposed pitches. Area 2 proved to be not archaeologically significant. Area 11 was tested and proved to be a natural stone spread. The remaining areas have been recorded and backfilled with a minimum buffer of 0.5m of soil.

Area 1
This site, outside the area of development (between Pitches 3 and 4), consisted of one east–west-running ditch, 1.7m wide and 16m in exposed length. It appeared to cut a semicircular enclosure to its immediate south and to finish abruptly at its eastern end. This respected and allowed access between the enclosure and a north–south-running ditch to the east. This ditch measured 46.4m north–south by 2.5m and also appeared to truncate the semicircular enclosure. The enclosure measured 18.3m east–west by 11.5m. It was defined by a U-shaped ditch with an average width of c. 0.7m (maximum width: 1.4m) and 0.45m deep, where it was cut by the north–south-running ditch. Within this was a probable keyhole kiln, rimmed with red oxidised soil. Other features included one burnt pit, one possible post-hole and one cremation deposit, which measured 0.32m north–south by 0.42m and yielded a cremated human cranial fragment.

Area 3
Situated 20m north-east of Area 1, this area consisted of a linear ditch measuring 40m east–west, with a maximum width of 0.4m. This was cut by the modern, 1782–1836, field-ditch system halfway along its length. A further section of the ditch continued to the east, where it ran into a north–south-running ditch in Area 6. These both seem to relate to the eastern two ditches of Area 1 to the south-west, forming a subrectangular field measuring c. 95m east–west by 50m.

Area 4
Situated in the south-west corner of the field defined by the ditches in Areas 1 and 3, this area had just one charcoal-flecked circular pit, with a diameter of c. 0.9m. This produced a handmade, decorated sherd of everted rim. A siltstone polished axehead was found immediately to the north.

Area 5
Situated 30m east of Area 1, this area had one possible keyhole-shaped corn-drying kiln, measuring 1.6m north–south by 0.9m. An oxidised rim was noted around the feature, together with a probable flue extending to the south-south-west.

Area 6
Starting 40m east of Area 3, the highest part of this area was excavated by Robert O’Hara (No. 1337 , Excavations 2002, 02E0233), as it lay above the proposed pitch level. This area consisted of a number of shallow circular pits and post-holes. The posts may have formed a small sub-oval structure, and the relatively sterile pits provided charcoal yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 960–1220.

The remaining c. 3750m2 area yielded extensive archaeological deposits. Seventeen possible pits were recorded, along with fifteen possible post-holes and two possible hearths. These could not be defined as distinct structures without excavation. Two ditches were uncovered. The first, an east–west-running continuation of the Area 3 ditch, measured 12.2m east–west by 1.3m. This fed into a linear ditch that measured c. 50m north–south by 0.8m but continued beyond the limits of investigation to the north and across Area 7 to the south.

A number of loose finds were recovered from the area, including flint cores; flint scrapers; prehistoric, late medieval and post-medieval pottery; and a solitary lead musket ball. Immediately east of this area a finely worked, invasively retouched flint blade was recovered.

Area 7
Situated immediately south of Area 6, this area revealed the continuation of the north–south-running field boundary found in Area 6, two linear spreads, a substantial souterrain, four probable hearths, a circular pit/hearth, a small burnt spread, an isolated lintel and a sizeable post-medieval quarry.

The field boundary continued south from Area 6 for 32m and was 2m wide on average, except for the southern stretch, which appeared to have been widened. This 17m stretch attained a maximum width of c. 4m before finishing abruptly at a rounded terminus to the south. Occasional flecks of charcoal and degraded animal bone were found across the surface of the fill, together with a concentration of greywacke fragments and pieces (0.05–0.35m in maximum dimension) at the eastern edge of this stretch. A slight spread of upcast material was noted east of the ditch, terminating c. 4m farther east, at the start of the souterrain cut.

The linear spreads, which may have filled natural hollows or masked two substantial ditch cuts, were found to start c. 10m south of the souterrain. Their sub-rounded possible termini were 15.2m apart, and the spreads were 6–8m wide and 10–12m long, although both continued beyond the limit of investigation to the south. These also contained occasional flecks of degraded bone, flecks and small concentrations of charcoal, and a moderate amount of fire-reddened greywacke pieces.

The souterrain cut was spread over an area measuring 21m east–west by 14m at the widest, western end. The cut was 2.5–3.25m wide, forming a continuous run of c. 60m, surrounding a central, L-shaped island of natural. Only the western passages were safely accessible for internal recording. To the north of the initial break-in, a small side-chamber deviated from this plan. A notched, greywacke lintel was found c. 3.8m south of the discernible souterrain cut. The flat upper surface of the lintel measured 1.11m east–west by 0.22m.

The exposed backfill of the souterrain included occasional charcoal flecks, frequent small greywacke fragments (<0.04m) and a lens of ash charcoal. The lens returned a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 405–690 and was possibly scraped from a small hearth at the time of the construction of the souterrain. At the eastern end of the souterrain the greywacke stone lining of the underlying passage could be discerned projecting through the backfill, suggesting that no roof slabs were in place.

The initial break-in consisted of two 0.6m subcircular openings c. 0.5m apart, giving access to Passage 1 to the west and the lower Passage 4 to the east, which was not safe to record internally.

Heavy rains and vandalism caused localised collapse to the northern wall, revealing, in section, the greywacke wall within an almost vertical cut, which had been packed from behind. The wall was corbelled slightly from an average internal width of 0.95m at the base to 0.8m at the top, where large roof slabs slightly overlapped the uppermost course, which were in turn covered with backfill, 0.25m deep at this point.

Passage 1 ran west from the break-in, curving slightly northward, for 7.2m. It was on average 0.95m wide and 0.85m high, and 1.2m along its northern wall was an opening leading to the side-chamber. Approximately 4m into the passage, a roof slab had fallen in, and a sawn cow/horse femur joint was retrieved from the collapsed material surrounding it. The base of the passage had been cut out of the greywacke bedrock in places, including a step, 0.38m high, at the north-western end of the passage, and a grooved stone had been built into its north wall.

A square opening, 0.55m high and 0.45m wide, gave onto the side-chamber via a 1m-long passage of similar proportions. The chamber had rounded corners and corbelled walls, with its eastern end and some parts of the base cut into the bedrock. It measured 2.8m east–west by 1.4m and was c. 1m high. Several roof slabs had collapsed in the chamber, and more had split, projecting dangerously from the roof.

The rock-cut step, lintel and supporting jambstone led up through a constriction, 0.75m wide and 0.68m high, to the higher Passage 2. Immediately west of the lintel, the ceiling attained its full 0.95m height, and the passage curved north-westward on the flat for 3.5m. It then sloped down to the west for 4.5m, with a central U-shaped gully, before terminating in a small beehive chamber.

The corbelled beehive chamber was 1.7m in diameter and 0.7m high and was spanned by a single massive slab. In the centre of the floor a square opening of 0.7m sides was surrounded by at least five slabs and one lintel of greywacke stone, which may have fitted over the opening. The opening formed a drop-hole giving access to Passage 3.

Passage 3 started 0.7m below the beehive-chamber floor and led 5.8m south to a block-built step, 0.41m high, which formed a rectangular constriction, 0.55m high and 0.8m wide. The passage took on the higher floor level until it became blocked with collapsed material 4m farther south. The passage varied from 0.8m to 1.1m wide and from 0.55m to 1m high.

The three hearths included occasional surface charcoal flecks, oxidised soil and frequent charcoal inclusions around their oxidised rims; they varied from 0.4m to 1.25m in diameter. A fourth possible hearth/pit was 0.54m in diameter, with a moderate amount of charcoal flecking.

To the north-east of the souterrain an oval quarry measured 19m east–west by 14m, with a maximum depth of 1.9m. It had almost vertical faces, with an entrance to the south. It was filled with 0.03–0.1m of greywacke fragments and modern rubbish and was first depicted on the third-edition OS map of 1938–9.

Area 8
Situated 40m north-east of Area 7, this was a sub-oval hearth, measuring 0.94m north–south by 0.54m by 0.2m deep, with an oxidised rim. It contained hazel and ash charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 70–420), as well as bovine teeth, occasional flecks of cremated bone, heat-fractured stone and a large number of cereal grains, including barley and oats. This was fully excavated by Robert O’Hara (No. 1338, Excavations 2002, 02E0234).

Area 9
This area, immediately east of Area 7, was fully excavated by Robert O’Hara (No. 1339, Excavations 2002, 02E0235), revealing a considerable number of post-holes, pits and hearths, together with two cremation pits and a small ditch. These features have broadly been placed in three main periods.

A bowl-shaped oval pit, measuring 1m by 0.7m by 0.22m deep, contained frequent alder and ash charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of 1520–1215 BC), very occasional cremated bone, a flint thumbnail scraper and 221 sherds of at least two Bronze Age coarseware vessels in the secondary fill. Most of the surrounding pits, hearths and post-holes were attributed to the Bronze Age because of their apparent similarity and the concentration of Bronze Age pottery in this region. The number of post-holes appeared to indicate some sort of structure, but no form could be deciphered. Three Middle to Late Bronze Age cremation pits were found, post-dating any post-built structure. The remains of one of these was interned in an upturned urn.

A subrectangular hearth, 1.1m long, 0.46m wide and 0.16m deep, with vertical sides and a flat base, contained alder and willow charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of 180 BC–AD 130). A large number of cereal grains were retrieved from the fill, most of which were barley. A number of the surrounding features are likely to belong to this period also.

An east–west-running ditch seemed to continue the line of the early medieval field system. A second subrectangular cut, with vertical sides and flat base, measured 1.02m by 0.92m by 0.25m deep. The primary fill contained frequent oak charcoal and redeposited oxidised clay, and the secondary fill also contained charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 980–1250), with frequent mollusc shell and occasional mammal bone.

Area 10
Immediately east of Area 9 were two possible cremation pits with average measurements of 0.62m by 0.5m. A further pit, 1.5m in diameter, produced a Bronze Age body sherd.

Area 11
Test-trenching by Robert O’Hara revealed no archaeological features (No. 1340, Excavations 2002, 02E0236).

Area 12
Situated 30m north of Area 10, this area consisted of three possible pits, 0.5–0.8m in diameter, and an irregularly shaped burnt spread, measuring 0.92m by 0.5m. Occasional burnt stone and charcoal concentrations were found across the surface of these features, together with flint pieces, including a disc scraper, a small blade, a concave scraper, a multifunctional tool and a convex scraper, all apparently of Late Neolithic date.

Area 13
Situated 30m south of Area 9, this area contained two linear ditches. One ran north–south for 8m and was 0.54m wide. The other ran east–west for 40m and was 0.5m wide, but this continued beyond the limits of investigation to both the east and the west.

Area 14
Situated 100m south of Area 5 in apparent isolation, this area contained a stone-lined hearth, measuring 0.79m by 0.55m, with a burnt fill. A possible post-hole measuring 0.23m east–west by 0.13m lay just to the south.

Area 15
This area, 15m south-east of Area 9, contained a continuation of the early medieval field-system ditch, a curvilinear ditch that was cut into its backfill, and a large hearth. These features were recorded in plan and preserved in situ.

The field ditch measured 25.9m east–west by 3.5m at its widest point and was filled with a mid-brown silt. The curvilinear ditch had apparently been truncated to the south-west but still encircled the area around the central hearth, measuring 5.6m south-west/north-east by 0.5m. Both ditches continued beyond the limit of excavation to the east. The hearth measured 1.3m in diameter and included a moderate amount of decomposed charcoal, occasional charcoal flecks and burnt stone fragments, with a sizeable concentration of charcoal to the east of it.

Area 16
This area, 90m south-west of Area 1, was largely excavated before development, with low-lying deposits being preserved in situ (see No. 1341, Excavations 2002, 02E0201). Occasional flint finds and two pits filled with burnt stone may hint at prehistoric activity in the locality, but more concrete evidence was provided for the later periods.

A stack furnace, with an internal base diameter of 0.38m, contained a quantity of iron slag, lead, hazel charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of 420–200 BC) and burnt stone. This was constructed at the extreme west of the area, with a possible second furnace immediately to its east and a stake-hole inserted at c. 45° off vertical 7.4m to the east of the second furnace.

Six ditches varied from 1.7m to 2.2m wide and from 0.38m to 0.55m deep and had been recut at least twice along their length. They had U-shaped profiles and were remarkably sterile. The base of the final recut, however, produced fragments of souterrain ware and a small amount of hazel charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 700–900). These seemed to form the western part of an extensive field system of small rectangular fields, with sides measuring from 60m to more than 100m. These were in a patchwork arrangement running both east–west and north–south. The ditch fills contained a number of small, sub-rounded boulders, apparently from field clearance, which may have been used to create stone-faced or partly stone-faced field banks.

Two post-medieval field ditches were dated cartographically to between the early 1780s and 1836.

Area 17
This area, immediately east of Area 16, was excavated in full (see No. 1342, Excavations 2002, 02E0200). To the west was a cooking pit, 0.66m in diameter and 0.35m deep, which included occasional burnt stones, cremated bone and frequent ash charcoal (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of 1440–1130 BC).

A rectangular vertical-sided pit/trough was provided with two successive, substantial, curving windbreaks. The trough measured 1.35m north– south by 0.79m and was 0.28m deep. It included frequent heat-shattered stone, alder and ash charcoal flecks (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of 800–520 BC) and very occasional cremated bone fragments. Both windbreaks, c. 5m long, were constructed of seven substantial stone-packed posts with post-holes generally 0.3–0.5m in diameter and 0.15–0.3m deep.

To the east of the area a corn-drying kiln, 0.91m deep (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 30–580), was flanked by two small enclosures, each with a shallow pit cut within. A small curving gully enclosed an area of 5m in internal diameter to the south, and to the east the surviving part of a small U-shaped ditch enclosed an area measuring 14m east–west by 7m internally. The ditch fill included flint debitage, a convex scraper, occasional cremated bone fragments, oak and alder/birch charcoal flecks and lumps (yielding a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 350–530) and a solitary cow/horse tooth.

A number of post-holes and pits of no clear function were found, together with occasional body sherds of souterrain ware.

Area 18
This area, 30m east of Area 17, incorporated three post-holes, c. 0.38m in diameter, and a sizeable flat stone, probably forming the base-plate of a fourth. These were 1m apart and formed the northern curve of a circle c. 12m in diameter.

Area 19
This area, 40m north-west of Area 16, was fully excavated by Robert O’Hara (see No. 1343, Excavations 2002, 02E0654). Features excavated included two hearths (one with an associated spit), a pit, a post-hole and a post-medieval ditch and furrow.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth