2005:1034 - AREA 13, AGHNASKEAGH, Louth

Following test-trenching in the vicinity of a low knoll, an area measuring c. 40m by 60m was stripped back, revealing a number of features within the very stony subsoil. A continuation of an existing field boundary ran north–south across the north-eastern corner of the site and joined a modern field drain, which crossed the site from north-west to south-east. A narrow ditch, representing the townland boundary, also ran across the site, curving from east to west and running just north of the knoll. A series of faint cultivation furrows were also noted running north-west/south-east, parallel to the field drain. There were also numerous small features with loamy or, less commonly, charcoal-flecked fills. These were scattered across the site forming no obvious pattern but with a heavy concentration to the south-west of the field drain. Excavation of these features showed that the vast majority were extremely shallow, being angular in plan with sloping sides, and the only finds obtained from them were modern in origin. These loam-filled features can safely be interpreted as stone sockets, while those with a charcoal-rich fill resulted perhaps from tree clearance. The concentration of features south-west of the field drain was a result of the extreme stoniness of the subsoil in this area, rather than representing any particular structure.
There were, however, four features which were of archaeological interest. Two circular pits to the west of the field drain had steep sides and a charcoal-rich fill. To the east of the site was an hourglass-shaped feature with two conjoined circular chambers, one slightly larger and deeper than the other, with a charcoal-rich fill. This feature can be interpreted as some sort of oven or drier, being very similar to a feature found above. To the west of the site was an irregular feature with a fill of charcoal-rich, fire-reddened soil. This may also have been some sort of furnace, oven or drier. No finds were associated with these features, but 14C dating of charcoal samples taken from them may provide dating evidence.