2004:1128 - WHITERIVER/GUNSTOWN, Louth

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Louth Site name: WHITERIVER/GUNSTOWN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0601

Author: Teresa Bolger, c/o Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.

Site type: Enclosure and Pit

Period/Dating: Undetermined

ITM: E 701934m, N 785011m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.804644, -6.452450

Monitoring was carried out in conjunction with the Phase IV extension to the Whiteriver landfill site in County Louth. Monitoring was undertaken of topsoil-stripping at the locations of the two new cells, at temporary soil stockpile locations and at the location of the long-term soil stockpile and also in connection with access routes and haul-roads.

No archaeological features or deposits were identified within the area designated for the two new cells, or at the location of the proposed long-term stockpile at the southern end of Field 2. However, archaeological features and deposits were identified, cut onto natural geological strata, at two locations in Field 2 during the construction of the haul-road to access this long-term stockpile area.

Area A was located at the western side of Field 2. A curvilinear feature was identified extending east-west across the proposed haul-road. Approximately 15m to the north was a possible oval pit defined by a deposit of dark-grey charcoal-rich clay. Area B was located at the eastern side of Field 2. Three sides of a rectilinear enclosure were identified and this feature appears to extend into Field 3, to the east. To the west of this feature were at least two burnt pits or hearths. It is likely that cleaning back both these areas by hand would result in the identification of further archaeological features. In both areas features appear to extend beyond the limits of the areas stripped of topsoil.

The temporary stockpiling area at the northern end of Field 2 was expanded to accommodate all material from the construction of Phase IV. No further archaeological features or deposits were identified. It was recommended that the archaeological deposits at Areas A and B be properly defined, recorded in plan and assessed prior to reburial, as this section of Field 2 lies within the long-term development area for the landfill and is likely to be affected by future phases of expansion.

27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2