2004:1080 - DUNDALK RACECOURSE, DOWDALLSHILL, Louth

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Louth Site name: DUNDALK RACECOURSE, DOWDALLSHILL

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1180

Author: Tara O'Neill, Archaeological Consultancy Services, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

Site type: Various

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 705938m, N 808800m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.017528, -6.383451

An excavation was carried out subsequent to monitoring of topsoil-stripping at a residential development at Dundalk Racecourse, Dowdallshill, in Dundalk (No. 1079 above). Five concentrations of archaeological activity, Areas 1-5, were encountered. Area 1 consisted of a large circular pit containing loose grey/black sandy silt with quartz fragments and a flint scraper. Area 2 was located on a ridge of high ground. It contained a series of overlying deposits and pits, along with a number of recuts, which represented a number of different phases of use. Whelk shells filled a number of pits, along with a quantity of animal bone. A large quantity of flint artefacts were retrieved from the various features within this area, including a Bann flake, scrapers, blades, flakes, cores and a quantity of debitage. Prehistoric pottery was also retrieved from a small concentration of pits within this area. Although no radiocarbon dates have been obtained to date, this area may reflect a transition from the Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic period.

Area 3 contained a small number of pits and spreads and was located south-west of Area 4.

Area 4 contained a badly truncated fulacht spread with associated pits, a trough with a stone-lined base and stake-holes and a number of agricultural drainage ditches. A flint flake was retrieved from one of the pits.

Area 5 was located towards the eastern extent of the site. It consisted of a large oval-shaped deposit of oyster shells, measuring 10m by 16.4m, with a number of associated pits, deposits and an unusual crushed mussel deposit, defined along one edge by a row of stones. A flint flake was retrieved from one of the deposits and a badly truncated pit towards the southern extent of this area contained fragments of possible souterrain ware. All features on this site were fully resolved. No specialist analysis results have been received to date.