County: Louth Site name: Tankardsrock
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: 06E0652
Author: Cia McConway, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast, BT12 5BJ.
Site type: Ringfort, souterrain and burials
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 700769m, N 808125m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.012501, -6.462516
This site was discovered during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of the proposed south–north gas pipeline to be constructed by Bord Gáis Éireann. The site was located in Field 6 at Road Crossing 40 (40F06) in the townland of Tankardsrock, west of Dundalk. Stripping uncovered evidence of a curvilinear ditch, two shallow ditches, a souterrain and seven burials. Excavation took place from 12 July until 1 August 2006. A portion of a ringfort enclosing ditch, part of a souterrain, seven burials and several pits and post-holes were excavated.
The site is on a hilltop, with the elevation at the centre of the ringfort the highest area at around 62m OD and the surrounding interior area up to 5m lower. Only a portion of this ringfort was excavated, as it was decided to change the position of the pipeline centreline to lessen the impact on the souterrain. The pipeline corridor was moved northwards, therefore only the north end of the souterrain was excavated, leaving the majority intact.
The enclosure measures 61m in diameter and lies on a rocky outcrop. The enclosure ditch is substantial, being up to 2.6m in width and 1.2m in depth. A trench 5.6–10m wide north–south and 80m long was excavated. This enabled investigation of the full diameter of the enclosure, the depth of the enclosing ditch, what remains of the bank, the presence of internal archaeological features and their nature.
There were seven burials within the enclosure, all found on the east side of the hilltop. The burials were aligned east–west with the heads to the west, a position that is consistent with early medieval practice in Ireland. Also within the enclosure were two shallow ditches that post-date the burials. The souterrain was found on the west side of the enclosure (hence the west side of the hill). It is a drystone construction within a large cut that was then backfilled and piled with bank material. Evidence for other internal ringfort features was scant, perhaps because of erosion or agricultural practices, although a number of pits and post-holes were seen outside the west edge of the enclosure.
Finds retrieved consisted of eighteen sherds of medieval souterrain ware pottery, eight lithics, some slag, one piece of metal, a large quantity of animal bone and seven poorly preserved human skeletons.
