2024:744 - Yellowbatter and Moneymore, Drogheda, Louth
County: Louth
Site name: Yellowbatter and Moneymore, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 24E0588
Author: Marc Piera
Author/Organisation Address: c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Site type: Prehistoric pits
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 708533m, N 777754m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.738120, -6.354864
| A programme of archaeological testing was carried out to inform a pre-planning impact assessment for the Ballymakenny Infrastructure development, associated with phases 1-6 of the Ballymakenny Residential development.
There are no recorded monuments located within the site boundary although three enclosures (LH024-078–80) and a ringfort (LH024-092) are recorded in the surrounding fields c. 50m to the west and 200m southeast (respectively). Recent investigations have also recorded prehistoric and medieval remains in the surrounding fields. Geophysical survey undertaken by John Nicholls in 2022 (licence 22R0002) identified a scattering of small anomalies of archaeological potential within the wider lands, with Anomaly 5 lying within the northern boundary of the current site identified as possible burnt material. Archaeological testing was carried out over the course of two days from 27 May 2024 using a mechanical excavator fitted with a flat grading bucket. The trenches targeted geophysical anomalies and open green space in order to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. Testing revealed one area of archaeological significance (Archaeological Area 1), comprising two small pits. These features, one of which contained prehistoric pottery, did not have a geophysical signature.
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