2005:1046 - PORT ORIEL, CLOGHERHEAD, Louth

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Louth Site name: PORT ORIEL, CLOGHERHEAD

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05D033/05E1434

Author: Julianna O’Donoghue, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.

Site type: Harbour

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 716947m, N 784623m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.798003, -6.224774

Port Oriel Harbour is currently being upgraded by the Department of the Marine. The development includes an extension of the pier (constructed in 1880) and dredging of the harbour basin to –7.2m OD. An underwater assessment of the proposed dredge area was carried out in June 2005. The investigation was based on a geophysical survey conducted by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd in August 2003, which identified eighteen anomalies. Within the area of the survey the seabed was found to be flat and featureless. The sediment was comprised mainly of sand and silt. No evidence of archaeological stratification, deposits or objects was recorded. Although the dive investigation was regarded as archaeologically negative, the potential for undiscovered buried archaeological material was highlighted.
Dredging operations commenced in February 2006 and are in progress. To date, no archaeological material has been recorded.