2023:579 - DROGHEDA: Twenties Lane, 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 identified a number of archaeological features within the site. The most significant was a trivallate enclosure, now enclosure LH024-090.

A total of 15 test trenches were excavated within the site. 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, c. 789m 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 and a greyish brown sand and gravel. Some red brick inclusions and pockets of gravel were observed within the natural at the southwestern side of the site where they sank into the soft natural sand.

In total, 27 archaeological features, plus a modern ditch were identified within the excavated test trenches.

These consist of features at the location of the monument; 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. To the north and northeast of the enclosure, seven linears were recorded (C600 – C606), that could be associated with the enclosure and/or represent former field divisions. One of the linears corresponds with a field boundary depicted on the 1907 map and removed by 2017.

The southwestern 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.

Further seven features were recorded to the north of the enclosure. These consist of linear features/ditches, one corresponds with roughly east to west aligned field boundaries depicted on the 1910 map and was removed by the time of the 2017 aerial. The remaining linear features (C600–C605) might represent former field systems, some could represent furrows.

The trivallate enclosure LH024-090 is to be preserved in situ within a buffer zone.