2013:399 - CASTLEBELLINGHAM: Castlebellingham and Drumleck, Louth

( and 705166 795618)
Testing took place of a proposed realignment of the R166 between Castlebellingham village and the M1 motorway (Junction 16), and excavation of identified sites. Eleven trenches, amounting to 520m were excavated, and two archaeological sites were identified. A disturbed burnt spread was recorded at Castlebellingham 1 (705054 795609; approx. 20m OD) with a spread approximately 3m x 1.5m x 0.2m deep and two troughs (less than 1m across) were also recorded. All features were cut by a later field boundary ditch. Castlebellingham 2 (704895 795586; 18m OD) was a localised burnt spread (1.85m x 1.58m x 0.04m deep). A Bronze Age date is expected. A radiocarbon date is in preparation at the time of writing.