County: Louth Site name: Haynestown, Site 8
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08E0729
Author: Gill McLoughlin, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Possible prehistoric structure and pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 705788m, N 802311m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.959276, -6.387992
Excavation of Site 8 took place on 25 August to 12 September 2008 due to a planned housing scheme by Cannon and Kirk Developments Ltd. The site was one of a number of sites identified as a result of an extensive programme of test-trenching carried out in 2005 (Excavations 2005, No. 1078, 05E0963).
The excavations at Site 8 concentrated on three separate areas. In Area A, a possible prehistoric post structure was excavated, in addition to a number of pits which appeared to be medieval or post-medieval in date. The shape of this possible structure was not clear, although a circular layout seems most likely with a diameter of c. 4m. It is possible that some of the elements of the structure may have been removed by later disturbance or that it may have formed some sort of light shelter rather than an actual enclosed space. A small quantity of probable Bronze Age pottery was recovered from features associated with the possible structure.
In Area B features excavated were consistent with remnants of a relict field system and no finds of note were recovered.
In Area C, a scattering of pits, post-holes and spreads was excavated. Early Neolithic pottery was recovered from a large shallow pit, a small quantity of probable Bronze Age pottery was recovered from another pit and various pits similar to those in Area A are thought to be medieval/post-medieval in date.
