County: Louth Site name: 34 Shop Street, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LH024–041 Licence number: 05E1420, 05E1420 ext.
Author: Dermot Nelis, Dame House, 24–26 Dame Street, Dublin 2.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 708947m, N 775115m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.714331, -6.349509
Testing was undertaken at 34 Shop Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, on 23 February 2006 using a three-tonne mini-excavator. The site was located inside the zone of archaeological potential of Drogheda and within the medieval town wall.
Excavation of two test-trenches failed to reveal either archaeological features or artefacts, with the exception of modern finds such as bottle glass and china pottery from the mixed uppermost levels. Geologically deposited strata were revealed at the bottom of both trenches.
It was recommended that the removal of all topsoil and overburden down to geologically deposited strata be monitored. This took place between 28 March and 3 April. Five ground beams were excavated across the site and these revealed the same subsoil deposits as were recorded in testing. The entire site was sealed by a concrete layer that sealed a loose light-brown silty clay with moderate gravel and small stone inclusions. Excavation of the ground beams extended through the light-brown silty clay into a loose light- to mid-brown silty clay with frequent large and small stone inclusions along with frequent red-brick fragments. Excavation ceased at that point.
No archaeological features or objects were revealed during monitoring.
