2019:691 - SLANE: Drogheda Road, Meath
County: Meath
Site name: SLANE: Drogheda Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 18E0735
Author: Derek Gallagher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 696394m, N 774374m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.710140, -6.539849
An Archaeological Assessment was carried out on a proposed development site at Drogheda Road, Slane, Co. Meath on 7 January 2019. An assessment of the existing structures on the site was carried out by Jon Stirland of ACSU on 14 January 2019. In advance of the archaeological test trenching, a geophysical survey of the site was undertaken by Donald Murphy and Robert Breen of ACSU under Licence No. 18R0255 on 3 December 2018. Some potential features were identified as a result of this survey.
A large band of magnetic disturbance was identified extending south-east/north-west in the eastern portion of the field. A faint linear anomaly was apparent in the middle of the survey area, extending in a northerly direction. A series of linear anomalies aligned roughly east-west were identified in the north-west portion of the field and may represent scarring from plough activities. Large magnetic disturbances were apparent in the south, west and north-west and likely represent interference from the field boundary and housing estates that enclose the proposed development area.
A total of nine test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development. The topsoil had an average thickness of 0.3–0.5m and was removed onto an orange-coloured natural boulder clay. No features of archaeological significance were identified and no finds were recovered.
The anomalies identified as a result of the geophysical survey were not of any archaeological significance, being either natural in origin or indicative of modern activity. The large band of magnetic disturbance identified in the geophysical survey turned out to be a band of natural bedrock and was visible in Trench 1. A gravel laneway was visible in Trench 9 and extended in a north-easterly direction. This gravel pathway was, however, visible on the aerial photograph (Ortho OS Map 1995) and was therefore deemed modern in date.
No features of archaeological significance were identified as a result of the geophysical survey and the archaeological assessment. The buildings contained within this site are modern in date and as a result there will be no archaeological impact.