2021:204 - Colp West school extension, Drogheda, Meath

Test excavations took place on 3 June 2021 at Colp West, Drogheda, Co Meath in advance of a school extension. The site covers an area of approximately 1.55ha comprising a green field located to the south-east of Drogheda Town Centre. Five test trenches were opened with a combined length of 440 linear metres (c. 5.1% of total area; 880 sq m). The trenches were placed to assess geophysical anomalies produced in the geophysical survey (Licence No: 21R0127) of the site.
The fields were in an overgrown state, having previously been used for arable farming. A c.5-10m wide area following the line of the school fencing was heavily disturbed, most likely during the original construction works. The topsoil was a friable, mid-brown clayey-silt with frequent pebble inclusions (<100mm diameter) with a depth of 0.2-0.45m. The subsoil comprised a compact but friable, mottled orange-brown silty clay with frequent small stones (<150mm diameter). No archaeological sites or features were recorded. No archaeological objects were noted in excavated deposits.

Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.