2023:138 - Twenties Lane, Moneymore, Drogheda, Louth

Archaeological test trenching was carried out on the site at The Twenties Lane, Drogheda, Co. Louth. This was informed by a geophysical survey carried out under licence 18R0188.The survey was identified a number of archaeological features within site. The most significant was a trivallate enclosure, since designated as LH024-090. The monument is located within the northwest of the site, which was excluded from test trenching in March 2022 and placed in a protective buffer zone. A licence extension was granted and further testing was carried out.

A total of 6 test trenches were excavated within the enclosure. The test trenches targeted anomalies discovered during the geophysical survey carried out under licence 18R0188. Each trench measured 1.8m in width, and in total, 300m of linear trenches were excavated. The test trenches were excavated down to the natural subsoil. A dark brown clayey sand topsoil measuring between 0.2m to 1.1m in depth was taken down onto the natural. The natural varied and consisted of a brownish-orange clayey silt to a silty sand to a greyish-brown sand and gravel. Some red brick inclusions and pockets of gravel were observed within the natural at the south-western side of the site where they sank into the soft natural sand. In total, nineteen archaeological features, plus a modern ditch were identified within the excavated test trenches. These consist of three concentric ditches belonging to enclosure LH024-090, inner ditch, C518, middle ditch C509 and outer ditch C507, ditch C503, curvilinear feature C504, possible kiln, C505, ditch C506, narrow linear C508, ditch C510, modern ditch C513, ditch C514, possible pit C514, ditch C540, ditch C549, curvilinear feature C550, ditch C551, pit C553, pit C554, post-medieval ditch C555 and recut C565 of middle enclosure ditch C509. The south-western part of the enclosure was heavily disturbed for the extraction of gravel/sand. Ditch C513 contained modern inclusions, including glass and plastic. A number of features found contained post-medieval finds, such as white glazed ceramic sherds, slate and red brick (curvilinear C550 and linear C555). In Trench 3, middle enclosure ditch C509 was recut twice; both cuts contained post-medieval finds. A highly corroded iron nail and a struck piece of flint were found in ditch C510. Other pieces of struck flint came from inner enclosure ditch C518 and middle enclosure ditch.

The features from trivallate enclosure LH024-090 cannot firmly date it. The flints uncovered may range in date from the early medieval or possibly high medieval period, prior to full excavation and or scientific dating it is difficult to be more precise.

Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth. A92 DH99.