2021:066 - Main Street, Dunboyne, Meath

Test trenching was carried out at Main Street, Dunboyne, Drogheda, Co. Meath. A total of 13 test trenches were excavated across the relevant areas.
Each trench measured 1.8m in width, and in total, 628m of linear trenches were excavated, targeting anomalies identified during the geophysical survey (21R0137). The test trenches were excavated down to the natural subsoil. In general, the trenches revealed greyish-brown sandy clay topsoil and sod with a combined depth of c. 0.32-0.8m.
Features identified during geophysical survey that were interpreted as potentially representing two ring ditches and two clusters of possible pits and spreads represent natural soil/geological variation, and are not of archaeological significance.
However, two ditches and a coarse gravel/stoned road were exposed. Boundary ditch C3 accounts for Anomaly G identified during geophysical survey and represents a field boundary depicted on the 1835 and 1909 mapping. In the north-west extent of the site, in Trench 5, a modern ditch C4 was exposed, it was filled with plastic and aluminium cans. In the centre of the site, north-east/south-west aligned coarse gravel/stoned road C5 was identified. It accounts for Anomaly F and represents a haul road associated with the construction of a nearby housing development visible on the OSI 1995 aerial photograph.
No features of archaeological significance were identified. No remains of the 19th-century chapel depicted on the 1835 and 1909 mapping were encountered within the area tested. It is however possible that subsurface remains of this structure are present beneath the carpark area that was not subject to test trenching.

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