2018:699 - Old Golf Links Road, Haggardstown, Blackrock, Louth

Test trenching was carried out between 2–8 May 2018. The site of the proposed development is located adjacent to LH012-014001 (Church) and LH012-014002 (Graveyard). A total of 42 test trenches were excavated.
Field 1 had been partially developed and it is evident that topsoil stripping has been conducted on the site during previous phases of works pre-recession, but the area is now covered by a thin layer of sod that developed over the past several years. It was also not possible to test the south-west portion of Field 2 due to the presence of high tension overhead cables, a sewerage duct and the waterlogged nature of the ground which prevents machine excavations.
The results of the geophysical survey were confirmed, and the presence of a large enclosure measuring 65m x 55m was established. The ditch (F004) was identified within Trenches 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17, 21, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 38, filled with a mid-brown silty clay containing moderate inclusions of angular gravels and occasional inclusions of animal bone (F003), measuring a maximum of 4.2m in width and 2m in depth.
Two trenches were excavated within the enclosure, but only one (Trench 1) revealed any internal features. These were identified as three possible pits (F005, F006 and F007) and four possible post-holes (F008–F011). Additional potential archaeological features were identified within Trench 9 where two possible spreads (F017 and F018) were identified, and within Trench 17, where a possible linear ditch (F029) was exposed containing occasional inclusions of charcoal.
The feature identified as (2) on the geophysical survey had been interpreted as a possible souterrain, and Trenches 4-6 and 8-12 were excavated in order to determine its archaeological potential, however only a modern linear ditch (F012) and a probably post-medieval/modern boundary or agricultural furrow (F015, F016, F021, F024 and F027) was exposed. There is an historical record of a souterrain in Field 3 (Jordan, J., 1934), described as an underground passage that was closed up in c.1904 as it was a home for foxes. The recorded site of this souterrain (LH012-011) was tested by Trenches 18-20, 23 and 38. A band of natural gravel (F028) was exposed within Trenches 18-20 that resembled a souterrain cut but when excavated, to a maximum depth of 1.2m, it proved to be natural in origin and no features or deposits associated with a souterrain, ie. entrance, stone walls or chamber, were exposed. A similar band of gravel was also identified within Trench 30. The site of a second souterrain (LH012-063) in Field 1 was tested by Trenches 39-41. Once again, no trace of a souterrain or any associated features were identified, but a linear ditch (F034) was exposed within Trench 41 that contained burnt stone and animal bone, which was of archaeological potential.
Testing in the remaining, south-eastern, portion of Field 3 was conducted in order to test the potential of the geophysical anomalies (3), but no archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified. A number of post-medieval field drains were identified within Trenches 9-11 and 39-40.

It is recommended that all archaeological features and deposits identified during the assessment –large enclosure (F004), possible spreads F017 and F018, possible linear ditch (F029) and linear ditch (F034), are fully excavated and recorded prior to commencement of development. In addition, it is also recommended that all topsoil stripping associated with the proposed development is monitored.

Reference:
Jordan, J., 1934 'Townland Survey of County Louth, Townland of Haggardstown', Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 210-215.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills Rd, Drogheda, Co. Louth