2004:1062 - AREA 10, AGHNASKEAGH AND DRUMNASILLAGH, Louth

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Louth Site name: AREA 10, AGHNASKEAGH AND DRUMNASILLAGH

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A002/000, A002/002

Author: Patricia Lynch, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30-50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ.

Site type: Prehistoric

Period/Dating:

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.