County: Louth Site name: Red Barns, Drumcar Road, Dunleer
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0443
Author: Linda Clarke, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Site type: Burnt stone spreads, kiln and pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 706150m, N 790143m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.849897, -6.386704
An archaeological assessment was undertaken at a site at Redbarns, in the townland of Drumcar, adjacent to and east of the Drumcar Road, Dunleer, Co. Louth. The nearest known monument is a Castle – unclassified (LH018-002003), located 0.87km to the north-west of the site and the Old Rectory, Drumcar (RPS LHS018-054, NIAH 13901840) is located c. 0.8km to the northeast of the site.
A total of ten test trenches were excavated to the subsoil or to the top of archaeological deposits. Trench 6a was extended following the discovery of a small pit (C3) 20m from the northern end of the trench and a small kiln C4 was subsequently identified. Both features were excavated.
Burnt stone material was identified at the southern extent of Trench 7 and a large area was opened to find its extent; the remnants of a large number of burnt stone spreads (C6, C7, C14, C17–C18, C20–C21, C30, C35–C36, C37 & C39–C40), were identified representing the remains of a fulacht fiadh. Numerous other associated features including possible troughs (C16 & C25) and possible pits (C10, C18, C22-C24, C26-C29, C31-C34 & C40) were exposed. A post-medieval ditch (C12) and three field drains (C5, C15 and C38) were also identified.
No archaeological features or deposits were identified in Trenches 1–5 or 8–10. Two sherds of post-medieval red glazed earthenware pottery (20E0443:1:1 & 20E0443:1:2) were recovered from Trench 4. One sherd of post-medieval black glazed red earthenware pottery and a clay pipe stem were recovered from Trench 5 (20E0443:1:3 & 20E0443:1:4).
The burnt stone spread is within a greenfield part of the site and will not be impacted by any subsequent works. The site will be preserved in situ and has been covered with a geotextile material and backfilled under archaeological supervision. A fence has also been erected around the site.
No further archaeological works are required.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
