County: Louth Site name: TULLYALLEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0728
Author: Stephen J. Linnane, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure, Cremation pit and Ring-ditch
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 704329m, N 777511m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.736795, -6.418633
A second phase of rescue excavation was undertaken at Tullyallen, Co. Louth, in advance of the construction of a housing development. Previously, testing by Deirdre Murphy had indicated the presence of archaeological features and monitoring of topsoil-stripping was recommended (Excavations 2000, No. 713, 00E0870).
The first phase of excavation was undertaken between 25 April and 9 July 2002 (Excavations 2002, No. 1364). The features excavated included ditches, a circular house, two cremation urns, a trackway and a possible ritual area. Radiocarbon dates for these features indicated a Neolithic date (3650 and 2700 cal. BC), although the finds assemblage was initially interpreted as being Bronze Age. Notable amongst other features were two cereal-drying kilns, the dates of which have been confirmed as Iron Age (140 cal. BC) by radiocarbon testing.
The second phase of monitoring and excavation was undertaken between June and August 2004. Features excavated included four conjoined ditched enclosures, two cremation pits, a small ring-ditch (external diameter c. 6m) and a metalled trackway. Radiocarbon dates are awaited, but the various features appeared to be contemporary with one another, forming part of an extensive prehistoric landscape.
Further work on this site is anticipated in 2005.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
