2020:400 - Ballymakenny Road, Yellowbatter, Drogheda, Louth

A programme of archaeological test trenching, informed by geophysical survey (20R0202), undertaken in October 2020 by Donald Murphy and Robert Breen of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd (ACSU), was carried out on a site in the townland of Yellowbatter in Drogheda, Co. Louth in December 2020.
Sixteen test trenches were excavated across relevant areas. Each trench measured 1.8m in width and in total 856m of linear trenches were excavated. In general, the trenches revealed mid-brown sandy clay topsoil and sod with a combined depth of c. 0.3–0.35m, overlying yellow brown boulder clay natural. A field boundary corresponding with geophysical anomaly B was found to likely represents remains of a hedge, as it was visible as a change in the topsoil only. Within all excavated trenches, a broken red brick interface was noted between the natural boulder clay and topsoil, its origin is however unknown. Two topsoil finds were recovered from Trench 13, these consisted of 20E0547:1:1 flint, 20E0547:1:2 clay pipe stem.
The field was subjected to agricultural activity over the centuries, including heavy ploughing. This would have removed any traces of archaeology in the area if it was present. Excavations in the environs of the site exposed very little archaeology too, suggesting perhaps it was a blank area in terms of past settlement.
No archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified.

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