County: Louth Site name: AGHNASKEAGH AND DRUMNASILLAGH (Area 10)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A002/000, A002/002
Author: Patricia Lynch, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 707911m, N 814329m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.066781, -6.351400
Archaeological assessment was undertaken along the proposed A1/N1 Newry-Dundalk link road, having been commissioned by DRD Roads Service. Archaeological evaluation was carried out along a number of locations highlighted in the EIA as areas of high archaeological potential. Testing was carried out in Drumnasillagh and Aghnaskeagh townlands, between Chainages 10000 and 10925. A total of 6600m2 was tested, which is 11.9% of the total area.
The results of the testing suggest that, while no extensive archaeological sites were uncovered, eight archaeological deposits were uncovered that indicate the presence of a number of small to medium-sized sites. Initial interpretations of these sites include one possible Bronze Age ring-ditch/ploughed-out barrow and seven apparently isolated features of uncertain date.
Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30-50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ
