2004:1104 - DUNDALK: Ramparts Road, Marshes Upper, Louth

An assessment was carried out in May 2004 as part of ongoing mitigation of the Dundalk inner relief road. Trenching was undertaken at the site of two proposed roundabouts off Ramparts Road, Marshes Upper, in Dundalk town. Two trenches were opened in a long marshy field fronting Ramparts Road and extending south to the railway embankment to assess the archaeological potential of two anomalies identified in the EIA: a possible standing stone and parallel curvilinear features.

Trench 1 was opened in the northern part of the field, beside the possible standing stone, but this was revealed to be nothing of archaeological significance and was likely to be one end of an early modern rope-bridge structure.

Trench 2 was dug at the site of two curvilinear features to the south of Trench 1 and either side of a previously excavated geotechnical trial pit. Examination of the spoil from this trial pit revealed a 17th-century coin hoard of five coins of English, Spanish and Scottish origin: one Spanish dollar (eight Reales) dated 1663; one Spanish four Reale piece, c. 1640; two English sixpences, one Charles I dated 1639–1640 and the other Elizabeth I dated 1571; and a Scottish forty-shilling piece, also Charles I. A number of red earthenware sherds were found in close association with the hoard. The curvilinear anomalies identified in the EIS were revealed to be micro-streams feeding into a central drain.

Further investigation, including a metal-detection survey of the vicinity, was recommended. This was carried out in June, but nothing further was recovered from this area and the actual findspot could not be accurately located in this assessment. However, the placename and cartographic evidence suggest that this hoard was a deliberate deposition, in the late 17th century, in wet inaccessible marsh away from settlement.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Drogheda, Co. Louth