2002:1343 - DUNDALK: (Area 19) Marshes Upper, Louth

Excavation at Area 19, Dundalk Institute of Technology, took place from 14 to 21 April 2002. This site was one of twenty areas of archaeology identified across the development, which involved the construction of six playing fields, with associated access road, car-parking facilities, running track, palisade fencing, drainage and power-line burial.

Two moderately oxidised areas with occasional charcoal staining were excavated in this area. One of the hearths (1.2m in diameter) was flanked by six stake-holes, three on the north-west and three on the south-east. The stake-holes were all of similar dimensions and contained similar fills. They appear to have functioned as spits. No finds or environmental remains were recovered from the deposit. The second hearth had suffered some damage before excavation. It originally measured 1.5m north–south by 1.06m. Three small sherds of coarseware pottery, a piece of flint debitage and a perforated flint nodule were retrieved from this hearth. The flint piece was possibly used as a loom- or net-weight. A single pit was also recorded. It was an oval cut, measuring 0.8m north–south by 1m, and was 0.12m deep. Its south-western side had been truncated by the insertion of a 19th-century paddock ditch. It contained a single fill. No finds or faunal remains were recovered from this deposit.

The hearths were quite close to two other archaeological areas, excavated by Matt Mossop (Areas 16 and 17, Nos 1341 and 1342, Excavations 2002) as part of the same development, and are possibly part of the same complex of features.

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