2018:895 - Rathgory, Mulladrillen, Ardee, Louth

The site at Rathgory, Mulladrillen, Ardee was subject to archaeological excavation, monitoring and test trenching. In Mulladrillen, four areas of archaeological significance were identified (Areas 1-4) and resolved, and an area adjacent to and west of souterrain LH017-011 was tested. Work on site commenced on 16 May 2018. The activity exposed on-site ranges in date from prehistoric to the post-medieval period.
Area 1 was located at the west part of the site, by the Drogheda road entrance, which revealed evidence for post-medieval activity. Three features were identified here and consisted of a field-drain, metalled trackway and mill race. The metalled trackway was marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1835, but it was not marked on the later editions, while the mill race is marked on all Ordnance Survey mapping (1835, 1907 and 1938).
Area 2 was located at the north side of the site and hill, west of and in close proximity to Area 3. Four pits and one stake-hole were exposed. The pits were interpreted as firepits, while one was a charcoal-production pit with a stake-hole, the latter likely acting as an air vent/smoke outlet for the pit. The date of these features is not certain. It is possible that they are broadly contemporary with the souterrain as they are indicative of habitation and typical of features found in association with souterrains and, therefore, likely of an early medieval date.
Area 3 was located on the north side of the hill and covered a large area. The features identified consisted of: seven pits (including two fire pits, a cooking pit, a charcoal-production pit, two storage pits and one pit of unknown function), a cereal-drying kiln, one spread, five post-holes, one stake-hole, three ditches, one field drain, one curvilinear feature representing a possible pit that was found to enclose three of the aforementioned post-holes and a possible hearth. A sample from the curvilinear feature/pit was C14 dated and returned a date of 1030 +/- 30 BP (cal. AD. 890-1150; 2 - sigma), placing the feature in the early medieval period. The figure-of-eight shaped cereal-drying kiln was aligned north-south, measured 1.38m in length by 1.2m in width and was 0.55m in deep. A sample from the kiln returned a C14 date of 1660 +/- 30 BP (cal. AD 250-540, 2-sigma), placing the feature in the Late Iron Age/early medieval period, suggesting the features exposed are likely associated and contemporary with the souterrain, therefore likely of the early medieval period.
Area 4 consisted of a truncated burnt mound likely dating to Bronze Age and a post-medieval ditch.
In addition to the above, an area adjacent to and west of souterrain LH017-011 was tested. The work was carried out using a 14-tonne tracked excavator. A total of 4 test trenches were excavated. Each trench measured 1.8m in width, and a total of 200m of linear trenches were excavated. In general, the trenches revealed topsoil and sod at a combined depth of c. 0.32-0.38m, overlying an orange clay natural. A post-medieval, north-west/south-east aligned field boundary in the form of a ditch was identified within Test Trenches 1-3. This boundary is shown on the 1835 and 1907 Ordnance Survey mapping. Finds recovered were of post-medieval date. The test trenching did not expose any features or deposits of archaeological significance.
All archaeological features and structures identified were preserved by record. The work is now complete. Consequently, no further archaeological mitigation is required. The buffer zone established around souterrain LH017-011 is to be maintained for the duration of the construction and operational stage of the project.

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