County: Louth Site name: Mount Avenue, Dundalk
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0151 & 20R0062
Author: Christina O'Regan & Tom Meharg
Site type: Testing; multi-period
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 702648m, N 808266m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.013394, -6.433821
Following a programme of geophysical survey carried out by Earth Sound Geophysics in 2019, test trenching was carried out at Mount Avenue, Dundalk. A total of 124 trenches measuring c. 3,720 linear meters were excavated between 9–20 March 2020. Metal detection was also carried out during throughout the course of excavation.
A total of 21 finds were discovered during metal detection, ranging from iron slag, coins, lead fragments (including a broken crucifix) to possible bronze items. Together, these finds do not contribute significantly to the understanding of the archaeology of the proposed development area.
Testing revealed 11 areas of archaeological significance, designated Archaeological Areas (AA1–11). Archaeological Areas 1 and 2 contained two trenches with archaeological features (Trench 33 and Trench 4). A ditch was present in Trench 33 while pits were identified in Trench 4. Archaeological Areas 3–7, located in the central part of the proposed development area, contained a ditch that crossed Trenches 47, 130 and 131 and a linear feature was present in Trench 129. Smaller features were also encountered during trenching; pits were uncovered in Trenches 59, 66 and 79 and a hearth was present in Trench 65.
Archaeological Areas 8, 9, 10 and 11, located in the southern portion of the proposed development area, encountered a curvilinear ditch and a linear ditch in Trenches 119 and 92. A kiln was present in Trench 97 and a post-hole identified in Trench 108. Many modern drains were encountered across the site and a previously unknown boundary ditch was identified in Trenches 33, 35, 36, 128 and 37. Features recorded on the first edition OS map of the area were encountered, they included a boundary, which was found in Trenches 24, 25 and 26 as well as a laneway in Trench 14. Test trenching resolved many of the geophysical anomalies as drains or non-archaeological/geological responses.
A lack of artefacts from the archaeological features means that dating the activity is not possible, with the exception of the post-medieval features. It is possible that the discrete areas of archaeological potential represent activity from prehistory through to the medieval period.
c/o IAC Archaeology, 9 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AF
