2024:739 - NEWRY AND FORKHILL ROAD, LISDOO, DUNDALK, Louth
County: Louth
Site name: NEWRY AND FORKHILL ROAD, LISDOO, DUNDALK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 23E0963
Author: Christina O'Regan & Josephine Fowler
Author/Organisation Address: c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Site type: Curvilinear ditch, pits, linear features
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 704865m, N 808941m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.019012, -6.399776
A programme of archaeological test trenching was undertaken on the site in January 2024 as part of a pre-planning archaeological assessment and following on from a geophysical survey (23R0227). This survey revealed anomalies relating to former post-medieval structures and deposits of potential archaeological origin.
A total of 24 trenches, which measured 1,660 linear metres in total, were excavated across the site. Testing revealed three areas of archaeological potential, designated as Archaeological Areas 1-3 (AA1-3). These comprised the following features:
• AA1: Two pits with charcoal inclusions (C11 and C23); three linear features (C10, C14 and C18), and one curvilinear ditch feature (C15).
• AA2: Two semi-oval pits (C37 and C38) and a linear feature (C36).
• AA3: One sub-oval pit (C45).
Non-archaeological features including post-medieval upstanding brick walls as well as debris layers containing bricks, mortar, and blackware ceramics, were identified within the north-eastern section of the site. These are likely related to historic buildings associated with Brickfield House or a ‘brick works’ depicted on the Ordnance Survey map of 1909. Furthermore, evidence of historic agricultural activity was noted in the form of numerous suspected field boundary ditches and field drains identified within the test trenches.