County: Louth Site name: DOWDALLSHILL: Dundalk Racecourse
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0950
Author: Tara O'Neill, Archaeological Consultancy Services
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 705938m, N 808800m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.017528, -6.383451
Monitoring of topsoil-stripping was carried out at the site of a residential development for a period of seven weeks commencing in July 2004. This stripping was carried out in phases over a period of time. A large number of archaeological features were exposed. These were located in five concentrations, Areas 1–5, and were spread across the site. Area 1 consisted of a large circular pit containing loose grey/black sandy silt with flint fragments. Area 2 consisted of a large number of deposits with associated pits containing whelk shells and prehistoric pottery. A Bann flake was recovered from the top of one of these deposits. Area 3 contained a small number of pits and spreads and was located south-west of Area 4. Area 4 contained a fulacht spread with associated pits and a number of agricultural drainage ditches. Area 5 was located towards the eastern extent of the site. It consisted of a large deposit of oyster shells with associated pits, deposits and a crushed-mussel deposit. Each of these areas was cordoned off upon exposure and was subsequently excavated (No. 1080, Excavations 2004, 04E1180).
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
