County: Louth Site name: WHITERIVER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1531
Author: Cia McConway, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclsoure
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 701429m, N 785515m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.809269, -6.459947
Two areas of potential archaeology were noted at the Whiteriver landfill site, Phase IV, during monitored topsoil-stripping by Teresa Bolger (No. 1128, Excavations 2004). After discussions with the Heritage Service, it was agreed that these features would be preserved in situ after their locations were surveyed and a number of them investigated. This investigation uncovered many more features than had previously been identified and evidence of pits, ditches and postholes were uncovered in both areas. Area A seems to be mainly characterised by several phases of field boundaries, plus a curvilinear ditch to the south. Area B includes three sides of a rectangular ditched enclosure that would have enclosed an area at least c. 24m by 19m.
A single find of a lignite bracelet fragment was recovered from an upper fill of the ditched enclosure in Area B and, although this is insufficient to date the site, all the available evidence of the surrounding area suggests a relatively compact period of land use during the Early Christian period (AD 500–1100).
Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ
