County: Louth Site name: DRUMAD (Areas 7-9)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A002/000, A002/001
Author: Damien Finn, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 707350m, N 816996m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.090857, -6.359019
Archaeological assessment along the proposed A1/N1 Newry–Dundalk link road was undertaken 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. A total of 2738m2 were tested in Area 78 (Chainage 7200–7600) and 1828m2 in Areas 8 and 9 (Chainage 8525–8770).
Testing uncovered eight field drains and an area of modern agricultural disturbance in Area 7, four field drains and two archaeological features in Area 8 and a linear stone setting in Area 9. Testing in Areas 7–9 did not uncover any extensive archaeological sites, although the archaeological deposits which were uncovered indicate the presence of a number of small sites that are probably prehistoric in date.
Initial interpretations of one the stone settings is as a possible souterrain that may be associated with SMR 4:1, which was uncovered in Area 9. This site then forms part of a dense concentration of souterrains located in this part of County Louth.
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