County: Louth Site name: AGHNASKEAGH (Area 12)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A002/000, A002/003
Author: Patricia Lynch, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 707584m, N 813449m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.058946, -6.356704
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 Area 12 within Aghnaskeagh townland between Chainages 10925–12150. A total of 10872m2 was tested, which is 14.8% of the total area.
Testing uncovered eight separate areas of archaeology, consisting of nine charcoal-flecked spreads and a large ploughed-out cairn that appears to be associated with SMR 4:41, a megalithic tomb. Local tradition refers to this area as a burial ground, although no evidence of burials was discovered during the testing. The cairn forms part of a wider prehistoric ritual landscape and may have been reused as an infant burial ground in the more recent past.
Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30-50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ
